M 




JNCHASTENED WOMAN 



4 COMEDY 



&E*£8H&-\ 



S .KAUFMAN ANSPACHEK 




Book / ysy i /3~ 



,o tajb 



CopyrightN c 

COFVRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 



OTHER PLAYS BY 
LOUIS KAUFMAN ANSPACHER 



Tristan and Isolde. A Poetical Tragedy. 

The Embarrassment of Riches. A Modern Comedy. 

The Woman of Impulse. A Modern Drama. 

The Glass House. A Modern Drama. 

The Washerwoman Duchess. An Historical Comedy. 

Our Children. A Modern Drama. 




LOUIS KAUFMAN ANSPACHER 
From the Painting by August Franzen 



THE 

UNCHASTENED 
WOMAN 

A Modern Comedy in Three Acts 

BY 

LOUIS KAUFMAN ANSPACHER 




NEW YORK 

FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 






Copyright, 1916, by 

Louis Kaufman Anspacher 

Copyright, 1912, as a Dramatic Composition 



All rights reserved, including that of translation into 
foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. 

All acting rights, both professional and amateur, are 
reserved, in the United States, Great Britain and all 
countries of the Copyright Union, by Louis Kaufman 
\Anspacher. Performances forbidden and right of rep- 
resentation reserved. Piracy or infringement will be 
prosecuted in accordance with the penalties provided by 
the United States Statutes: Sec. 4966, U. S. Revised 
Statutes, Title 60, Chap. 3. 

Application for the right of performing this play 
should be made to the author. 

Persons desiring to read this play professionally in 
public should first apply to the author. 




February, 1916 



FEB 21 »9»6 

SCI.D 43096 



TO 

KATHRYN KIDDER ANSPACHER 



CAST OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION 

BY 

OLIVER MOROSCO 

AT THE 

Thirty-ninth Street Theater, New York City, 
October 9th, 1915. 

Hubert Knollys Mr. H. Reeves-Smith. 

Mrs. Murtha Miss Jennie Lamont. 

Miss Susan Ambie Miss Isabel Richards. 

Caroline Knollys Miss Emily Stevens. 

Lawrence Sanbury Mr. R. Hassard Short. 

Hildegarde Sanbury Miss Christene Norman. 

Miss Emily Madden Miss Willette Kershaw. 

Michael Krellin Mr. Louis Bennison. 



PERSONS OF THE PLAY 

Arranged in the order of their first entrances. 

HUBERT KNOLLYS. 

MRS. MURTHA, a Charwoman. 

MISS SUSAN AMBIE. 

CAROLINE KNOLLYS, Wife of Hubert Knollys. 

LAWRENCE SANBURY. 

HILDEGARDE SANBURY, His Wife. 

MISS EMILY MADDEN. 

MICHAEL KRELLIN. 

Time : — The Present. 
Place : — New York City. 



ACT I 



ACT I 

The play opens m a morning in October. It is 
about ten o'clock. The first act presents the 
drawing-room of the Knoljlys' house, situated 
on a corner in the fashionable fifties, New York 
City. The room is spacious, but a little old- 
fashioned. Up stage, at the right, is a large 
arch opening on a hall, which leads out to the 
front door off stage at the right. In the cen- 
ter of the arch there are three steps leading to 
a platform, from which a flight of stairs rises, 
gomg left, and leading to the rooms above. 
The balustrade continues on a level with the 
stage, and indicates that the stairs lead also 
downward from the front hall to the basement. 

In the middle of the right wall is a large marble 

mantelpiece, with an open fireplace. Above 

the mantel hangs an old family portrait. On 

the wall below the mantel hangs an ornamental 

Venetian mirror. In the rear wall of the room, 

toward the left, is a mahogany door, leading to 

the basement. Between this door and the arch 

stands a large bookcase, filled with books in ex- 
3 



4 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

pensive bindings. The left wall of the room is 
pierced by two large windows, with practical 
shades and blinds. 

A library table and three chairs occupy the center 
of the room, under a heavy chandelier. There 
is a large divan chair with cushions and a foot- 
stool placed down left of the room. Set on an 
angle in front of the fireplace is a Davenport. 
Below this, also on an angle is a settle. Several 
of the chairs and the Davenport are covered 
with linen slips or sheets, which mdicate that 
the house has not been occupied for some time. 
The size and visible appointments of the room 
must suggest the atmosphere of large, though 
rather formal, luxury. 

The curtain rises on an empty stage. Dim light 
sifts through the closed blinds. There is a 
pause, and then the front door of the house is 
heard to open and close. A moment later 
Hubert Knollys enters from the hall, through 
the arch, putting his keys into his pocket. 
He is followed by Mrs. Murtha. Hubert 
Knollys is a tall and distinguished looking 
man of fifty-three. He is dressed m a mornmg 
suit and a Panama hat. He carries a whisky 
and a couple of soda bottles under his arm. 
He also has a newspaper. Mrs. Murtha is an 
elderly Irish woman. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 5 

HUBERT 

Phew ! It's close in here ! 
[Goes to a window which he opens and lets m the 

sunlight, then he turns and looks at Mrs. 

Murtha.] 
Is your name Agnes Murtha? 

MURTHA 

No. That's me daughter. D'ye see, Agnes was 
comin', the Lord love her, but she had a fall yister- 
day — 

HUBERT 

Oh, too bad. 
[He begins removing the slips from the furniture.] 

MURTHA 

[Undoing her bonnet and showing her white head.'] 
Yis — She's a f oine eddication, so she has ; but she 
bez a little weak in th' knee. So Oi came over me- 
silf, as soon as Oi heard from Mrs. Sanbury. 

HUBERT 

[Seeing her white hair.] 
Perhaps you're not strong enough — 

MURTHA 

Oi'm as shtrong as ivir Oi wuz. 
[She energetically takes a slip from a piece of fur- 
niture.] 



6 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

The whole house must be got in shape. 

MURTHA 

Yis, m'am. 

[Awed.] 
An' do yez own th' whole house entoire? 

[He nods quizzically.] 
Ah, glory be to God fer that ! 

HUBERT 

[Going to open the second wmdow.] 

I'll tend to the windows on this floor. 

[Looking out, then turning.] 

Oh, catch that ice-man and get him to leave a 
piece of ice. 

MURTHA 

Now do you be shtandin' there, son, so he don't 
get away. Oi'll let him in. 

[She starts to go off through the arch,] 

HUBERT 

[Pointing to the door.] 
No, this way through the basement. 
[Murtha scrambles off quickly. Hubert pauses, 
looking out, sees the ice-man, whistles and ges- 
ticulates to him to wait and go down into the 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 7 

house. During this, Susan Ambie enters from 
the hall through the arch. Susan is a woman 
of forty-five. She has the soul of a chaperon. 
She enters in nervous haste .] 

HUBERT 

Why, Miss Ambie ! 

[Shaking hands. ] 
Where's Caroline? 

SUSAN 

Get your hat and come right down to the dock 
with me. 

HUBERT 

I'm never missed unless there's been some trouble. 
What is it? 

SUSAN 

Your wife has been grossly insulted, as I was ! 
It's unheard of! 

HUBERT 

[Dawning. ,] 

Ah! trouble with the customs. Is that it? 

SUSAN 

[Indignantly. ] 

They have dared to suspect us, your wife and me ! 

HUBERT 

You mean they've found you out. You too! 



8 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

SUSAN 

I'm not speaking for myself. When I saw they 
were going to be disagreeable, I declared everything. 
But suddenly I realized that a vulgar inspector 
woman had been watching Caroline. I saw her take 
Carrie off! All your wife's trunks are held! 

HUBERT 

[Grimly relieved.] 
Good! 

SUSAN 

[Recoiling with a stare.] 
Carrie's told me many things; but I never be- 
lieved that you could be so heartless ! 

HUBERT 

I've been prepared for this for many years. If 
she will do things in her own high-handed way, she'll 
have to stand the consequences. That's why I never 
meet her. 

SUSAN 

Then you refuse to go? 

HUBERT 

I refuse to be made a cat's-paw. That is, when 
I can help it. 

SUSAN 

Oh! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 9 

HUBERT 

What is there for me to do? You must have 
made false declarations. 

SUSAN 

We didn't know they'd be so strict with us. 
We're not tradespeople or importers, or — 

HUBERT 

No, you're worse. Two women without even the 
wretched excuse of poverty, attempting to defraud 
the government! 

SUSAN 

Mr. Knollys ! 

HUBERT 

Ha! The cold sweat isn't worth the money. 
[Wipes his brow.] 

SUSAN 

I don't know what she'll do ! 

HUBERT 

She'll come home chastened in spirit, I hope, after 
having profited by this experience. 

SUSAN 

I really believe you're glad she's in trouble! 



10 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

Not that. But I shall be glad if this population 
of a hundred million citizens in their corporate ca- 
pacity are able, for once in her life, to demonstrate 
to my good wife that she can't do everything she 
likes with everybody. I've tried, her friends have 
tried, society has tried, perhaps the government will 
succeed. 

SUSAN 

Well, if I can't make you see your duty — 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting.'] 
The question of my duty to my wife is one that 
I do not care to discuss even with you. 

SUSAN 

It's none of my business, I suppose . . . 

HUBERT 

[Bluntly. ] 
Quite so. 

SUSAN 

[Fixes her hat.] 
Then I'll go back alone. Carrie's my dearest 
friend — 

[Then, m a bravado of accusing tearfulness,] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 11 

And I can't help it if I'm not strong enough to 
stand by quietly and see her die of mortification 1 

HUBERT 

[Sarcastic ally. 1 
You might advise her to appeal to them for 
clemencyr 

SUSAN 

She can't find less of it there than here! 
[He turns and goes up. Susan is about to exit 
when Caroline Knollys enters from the hall. 
Caroline is a woman of forty, very young 
looking, handsome, commanding and self-pos- 
sessed. She is faultlessly gowned.] 



SUSAN 

[With a cry.] 



Oh, Carrie! 



CAROLINE 

[Entering.] 
Oh, there you are, Susan. How are you, Hubert? 

[Shakes hands with him. Then to Susan.] 
I didn't know what became of you. 

SUSAN 

I came right here. 



12 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

You should have told me. Ninette and I looked 
every place. 

SUSAN 

I didn't want those men to see us together. 

CAROLINE 

Nonsense ! 

SUSAN 

And I thought — 

CAROLINE 

[Interrupting.] 
You didn't think. You went right off your head. 

HUBERT 

[Expectantly.] 
Well? 

CAROLINE 

[To Hubert.] 
You seem to thrive in my absence. 

[To Susan.] 
Doesn't he? 

HUBERT 

I return the doubtful compliment. The same to 
you, and many of them. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 13 

CAROLINE 

Thank you. 

[To Susan.] 
You got through quickly, didn't you? 

SUSAN 

When I saw they were going to be disagreeable, 
I declared everything. 

CAROLINE 

What! 

SUSAN 

What could I do? 

CAROLINE 

[Shrugging her shoulders.] 
I told you exactly what to do. 

SUSAN 

But when that woman searched me, I — 

CAROLINE 

You lost your nerve. 

SUSAN 

Oh, Carrie, I'm not thinking of myself. What 
did they do to you? 



14 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

[Expectantly.'] 
Yes, what did they do to you? 

CAROLINE 

To me? Why, what's the matter? 

SUSAN 

[Relieved.] 
Nothing, dear, if you're all right. How brave 
you are! 

CAROLINE 

Don't be absurd ! 

HUBERT 

[Breaking in.~\ 
I should hardly call it bravery. This was bound 
to come some time. I've always said so. I've al- 
ways feared it. 

CAROLINE 

[Calmly.'] 
Feared what? 

HUBERT 

Miss Ambie's told me everything! 

CAROLINE 

[With a sharp look at Susan.] 
Oh, indeed! Then there's nothing for me to say. 
[Rises to cross.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 15 

HUBERT 

[Nettled.'] 
Caroline, I want to know exactly what has hap- 
pened; so if there's anything that can be done now, 
I — 

CAROLINE 

[Sarcastic ally.] 
My dear Hubert, I'm really sorry to disappoint 
you; but there's nothing to be done. 

HUBERT 

And how about your difficulty with the trunks? 

CAROLINE 

[Smiling.] 
Sorry again. There's been no difficulty. 

HUBERT 

Then why did you send for me? 

CAROLINE 

I didn't send for you. 

i 

HUBERT 

You didn't! 

[He looks at Susan inquiringly.] 

SUSAN 

I know, but — 



16 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

Whenever we are away from you, Hubert, we grow 
so accustomed to depend on the chivalry and cour- 
tesy of men, that on our return, Susan forgets, and 
has to learn her lesson of self-dependence over again. 
You must forgive her. Really, Susan, you gave 
yourself too much concern. 

SUSAN 

My dear, I was so frightened. Didn't that woman 
search you? 

CAROLINE 

Me? Oh, no! I very soon put her in her place. 
And then, besides, I was careful to have nothing 
dutiable on my person. 

HUBERT 

Where are your trunks? 

CAROLINE 

I couldn't carry them with me, all nine of them. 
They'll be here shortly, I suppose. 
[She stands before the Venetian mirror, takes off her 
hat and fixes her hair,~\ 

HUBERT 

Caroline, there's been quite enough of this banter- 
ing. Did you make a declaration? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 17 

CAROLINE 

Sufficient for all practical purposes. 

HUBERT 

And what does that mean? 

CAROLINE 

I've done exactly as I've always done. I refused 
to argue the matter. I settled. Of course, as the 
law puts a premium on dishonesty, I found it ex- 
pedient to — 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting.] 
To what? 

CAROLINE 

[Smiling.] 
To pay the premium. 

HUBERT 

It isn't only a question of expediency. It's down- 
right lying! 

CAROLINE 

[Sarcastically.] 
Behold the moralist ! 

HUBERT 

[Contmuvng.] 
And it's a question of decent, honest citizenship ! 



18 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

But I'm not a citizen ; and I don't care to be. If 
you were honest, you'd confess you're only irritated, 
Hubert, because you can't say : " I told you so." 
So don't moralize; it doesn't suit you; and don't talk 
like a husband the first day I arrive. That doesn't 
suit me. 

[Hubert is about to say something, but is inter- 
rupted by the entrance of Mrs. Murtha from 
the basement. Caroline looks at her with an 
amused smile.] 

MURTHA 

Mr. Knowllez, the motor-man from the taxi- 
cab is ashkin' if you'll be wantin' him to wait any 
longer. 

SUSAN 

Oh, that's my cab ! He's been there all this time ! 
[She flounces to the hall.] 

HUBERT 

Wait, I'll — 

SUSAN 

[With acerbity.] 
No, thank you. 

[Exits.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 19 

MURTHA 

An' th' oice man will be wantin' twinty cints fer 
th' oice. 

[To Caroline.] 
Shure, it's the grand box ye have. 

HUBERT 

[Givmg her money.'] 
Here. 

[Murtha goes to door.] 
Oh, you can fetch up some glasses now, with ice 
in them; if you will. 

MURTHA 

Yis, sor. 

[Exits hastily.] 

CAROLINE 

[Amazed.] 
Where did you get her? 

HUBERT 

At a place that calls itself the " Co-operative 
Servant Agency." 

CAROLINE 

That must be the new name for the " Zoo." Have 
you a match? 



20 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

Yes. 

CAROLINE 

[Opening her cigarette case.] 
Will you smoke? 

HUBERT 

Thank you, I prefer my own. 

CAROLINE 

These are contraband. 

HUBERT 

The kind you like. 

CAROLINE 

Yes. 
[He strikes a match for Caroline. She lights her 
cigarette.] 

HUBERT 

Well, didn't you have a good time abroad? 

CAROLINE 

Certainly. 
[He sits at left of table, and lights his cigarette. 
She sits at right.] 

HUBERT 

But you changed your plans rather unexpectedly? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 21 

CAROLINE 

I hope that hasn't inconvenienced you. 

HUBERT 

Not at all. 

[Susan enters from the hall.~\ 

SUSAN 

I hate America! 

HUBERT 

Eh? 

SUSAN 

When you sail up the harbor and see the Statue 
of Liberty, you feel a tremendous emotion of patriot- 
ism ; but when you see your first cab charge, you 
want to turn around and go right back to Europe. 
I told the man there was something the matter with 
his meter! It jumped ten cents while I was arguing 
with him ! 

CAROLINE 

Did you pay? 

SUSAN 

I had to ! 

CAROLINE 

Then don't complain. Pay or complain; but 
don't do both. It isn't economical. 
[Murtha enters, carrying three glasses awkwardly.'] 



22 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

MURTHA 

Here ye are, Mr. Knowllez ! 
[Caroline opens the newspaper on the table and 
begins to read.'] 

HUBERT 

Thank you, that will do. 

MURTHA 

[Putting down the glasses.] 
Shure, they'll do. 
[She suddenly stares as she sees Caroline smoking.] 
Ah, f er th' love o' God ! 

[Caroline looks up. Murtha continues:] 
Shure, Oi do be fergittin' mesilf when Oi be passin' 
rhemarks wid your hushband. 

[Catching Caroline's eye.] 
Oh, Lord, yis, m'am. 

[She wilts away and exits to basement.] 
[Hubert opens the whisky bottle.] 

HUBERT 

Miss Ambie, will you have a Scotch and soda? 

SUSAN 

No, thank you, it always makes me silly. I'll go 
directly to my room. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 23 

CAROLINE 

[Not looking up from the newspaper.] 
Take the front room on the third floor. 

SUSAN 

Don't worry about me. I'll have Ninette arrange 
your things. 

CAROLINE 

[Turning over the paper.] 
Thank you, dear. 

[Susan exits up stairs.] 

HUBERT 

She's going to stay here? 

CAROLINE 

Yes. 

HUBERT 

Oh, then, in that case — 

[He ostentatiously doubles his drink.] 
How do you stand her? 

CAROLINE 

She pays her own way and is very useful. 

HUBERT 

[Sarcastically.] 
I daresay; but to me she's simply an interfering 
nuisance. 

[Pours soda into his whisky.] 



24 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Still reading.'] 
No. She's a constitutional altruist. That is, 
she has the soul of a servant. 

HUBERT 

A Scotch and soda? 

CAROLINE 

I never take it in the morning. 

HUBERT 

[Drinking.'] 
I always forget. 

CAROLINE 

[Looking up.] 
The Homestead stock at sixty-four? 

HUBERT 

It closed at seventy yesterday. 

CAROLINE 

What made the slump? 

HUBERT 

A series of muck-raking articles about Factory Re- 
form, and a lot of talk about Child Labor. 

CAROLINE 

I hope you're not embarrassed. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 25 

HUBERT 

I've got to keep buying in to steady them. 

CAROLINE 

[Putting down the paper. ] 
I'll lend you, Hubert ; but I won't invest. 

HUBERT 

[Ironically.] 
Really, Caroline, your generosity overwhelms 
me. 

CAROLINE 

Not at all. I know you have collateral. 

HUBERT 

I still hope to worry along without placing myself 
under financial obligations to you. 

CAROLINE 

[Placing both her elbows on table and looking at him 
narrowly.] 
Hubert, I've often thought you resented my hav- 
ing independent means. 

HUBERT 

It's foolish of me ; but I believe it might have made 
some difference in our lives, if you'd been — 



26 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Interrupting."] 

If I'd been dependent upon you for everything. 
If I had had no individuality of my own, or the 
means of keeping it intact. In other words, if I'd 
been poor. Is that what you mean? 

HUBERT 

No. But the superfluous wealth you've had has 
deprived us both of at least one of the real things. 
If we'd been poor together, there might have been 
something in our lives . . . something we've missed 
— something at any rate Vve missed. Some mutual- 
ity — some interest together. [Rismg.] Here we 
are, two people who have lived for twenty odd years 
together, and who have never really had even a 
trouble in common! 

CAROLINE 

[With a remote smile.] 
What trouble would you like to have me share 
with you? 

[Pause.] 

HUBERT 

[With a changed tone.] 
Oh, none. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 27 

CAROLINE 

[Laughing.] 
Hubert, don't be romantic toward your wife. 
That's waste. You're neither old enough nor young 
enough to play that sketch convincingly. You're 
neither dawn nor twilight; and Romance needs some- 
thing undiscovered, something in possibility, some- 
thing not yet precipitated into noonday common- 
place reality. And you and I — we know too much 
about each other to really carry that off with- 
out laughing in our sleeves. You say it isn't money. 
Oh, then I fear something has gone wrong with some 
object of your affection. 

HUBERT 

Please ! 

CAROLINE 

Then what is it? 

HUBERT 

I — I was about to speak of Elsie and Stephen. 

CAROLINE 

[Carelessly.] 
Oh, yes. How are the happy couple? 

HUBERT 

I'm afraid our daughter's not very happy. 
Stephen is a fool. 



28 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

I can't help that. 

HUBERT 

Have Elsie down here with us a little while — 

CAROLINE 

[Interrupting.] 

Impossible ! 

HUBERT 

She might occupy her old rooms. 

CAROLINE 

I have other plans. 

HUBERT 

But a little motherly counsel from you might — 

CAROLINE 

[Waving the discussion aside.] 
Oh, Elsie and Stephen bore me to extinction, — 
both of them. I did my best for her — gave her a 
coming out, a season in Newport and — 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting.] 
Then married her off, made her a settlement and 
got rid of her. Gad! A girl of nineteen married! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 29 

CAROLINE 

How old was I? 

HUBERT 

Well, our married life is nothing to boast of. 

CAROLINE 

Pardon, my dear Hubert, we've made a brilliant 
success of marriage. We ought to be grateful to the 
institution. It has given both of us the fullest 
liberty — a liberty that I've en j oyed ; and you've — 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting.] 
Yes, you've always done exactly what you wanted. 

CAROLINE 

\Meanmgly.~\ 
And you? 

HUBERT 

It makes no difference where we begin, we always 
wind up at the same place ; don't we ? 

CAROLINE 

Because you have abused your liberty. 

HUBERT 

Yes, I admit, it's my fault — if you like, all my 
fault. It's useless to go back over the old ruptures 



30 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

and recriminations. The prime mistake in both our 
lives was that we ever married. Well, we did. After 
about two years of doves, we had several years of 
cat and dog — and — 

CAROLINE 

I beg your pardon, in which class of animals do 
you place me? 

HUBERT 

We won't quarrel about the phrase. You refused 
divorce or separation at a time in life when we 
might have got one without making ourselves ridicu- 
lous. 

CAROLINE 

Divorce is always ridiculous. I made up my mind 
you'd never get free for anything / should do. 

HUBERT 

Yes, you've always been very careful about that. 
It isn't morality; but you never cared to relinquish 
an advantage. You refused divorce for your own 
reasons ; and I agreed with you for Elsie's sake: 
Then Elsie married — a great relief to you ; and we 
both agreed that the altitude of ideal husband and 
wife was too high for me to breathe in. You never 
cared about me; yet you were always very anxious 
that nobody else should. In the real significance of 
marriage, you have broken all your vows but one. I 
have kept all my vows, — 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 31 

CAROLINE 

[Sharply.] 

Eh? 

HUBERT 

But one. 

CAROLINE 

Ah! 

HUBERT 

[Contmuing.~\ 
That one violation of mine has given you the whip 
hand over me for these long years. 

CAROLINE 

Have you broken with that woman? 

HUBERT 

What woman? 

CAROLINE 

That Madden woman — Emily Madden. 

HUBERT 

You know nothing whatever about her. 

CAROLINE 

Pardon, I have taken the trouble to gather all the 
intimate details. 



32 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

Indeed? 

CAROLINE 

And my friends have seen you every place with 
her. That's all I really care about. 

HUBERT 

And they will continue to see us; whenever Miss 
Madden does me the honor to accompany me. 

CAROLINE 

[Resuming her newspaper.'] 
Oh, very well. I shall continue to condone every- 
thing; because I do not wish the elaborate structure 
I have built for many years to be destroyed. Our 
marriage stands as a temple to the Gods of Conven- 
tion. The priests are hypocrites ; but be careful not 
to make the congregation laugh. That's all I ask 
of you. Quite simple, isn't it? 

HUBERT 

Yes, simple as all heartless things are. 
[Pause. She reads. Hubert walks up as Susan 
Ambie enters from up stairs.] 

SUSAN 

Carrie, I tried to 'phone the Intelligence Offices; 
but your 'phone isn't connected. 

[She looks accusingly at Hubert.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 33 

HUBERT 

[Irritated.] 
Excuse me. 

[Goes to door, then turns. ] 
Oh, Miss Ambie, there's a prize of fifty dollars for 
the first good news that you announce. 
[Exits.] 

SUSAN 

[Sentimentally. ] 
I can see by your face, dear, you've had a scene. 

CAROLINE 

No. Just our annual understanding. 

SUSAN 

[Curiously.'] 
You don't have to tell me, Carrie. 

[Pause.] 
Has he broken with that Madden woman? 

CAROLINE 

[Smiling.] 
I hope not. 

SUSAN 

It's wonderful that all this hasn't made you bitter. 



34 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

Bitter? 

[Laughmg,'] 

I am very grateful to Miss Madden. 

SUSAN 

[Quickly.'] 
Oh, Carrie, you didn't tell him that, did you? 

CAROLINE 

[Laughs. ~\ 
Oh, dear no ! I never let him forget that at any 
moment I could name Miss Madden as a co-respond- 
ent. She is a weapon in my hands. 

SUSAN 

[Admiringly.] 
What a wonderful person you are ! Only — 

CAROLINE 

Only what? 

SUSAN 

Only be careful, dear. Don't give him sl weapon 
against you. 

CAROLINE 

In what way? 

SUSAN 

Of course you'd never think about it ; and it's quite 
as well you shouldn't, as long as I can do that for 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 35 

you. But be careful, dear, about Lawrence San- 
bury. 

CAROLINE 

Don't be absurd. You were practically always 
with me. 

SUSAN 

[With a nervous whimper.'] 
Oh, no, I failed you, Carrie ; I should have dragged 
along no matter how ill I was. 

CAROLINE, 

[Bluntly. 1 
Get that idea out of your head. 

SUSAN 

But if he should ever learn about your last days 
alone with Lawrence in the mountains . . . 

CAROLINE 

He'll never learn it. 

SUSAN 

And there is a Mrs. Sanbury, too! 

CAROLINE 

[Impatiently .] 
Of course ! Susan, I've known artists all my life, 
and I've never had to bother with their wives; at 
least . . . 

[Murtha enters excitedly from the hall.~\ 



36 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

Would you mind knocking on the door before you 
enter a room? 

MURTHA 

[Pointing innocently to the arch.~\ 
But there isn't any door, me dear. 

CAROLINE 

What is it? 

MURTHA 

Me great friend and sishter, Mrs. Sanbury, is here 
wid her hushband ! They be a wantin' to see you ! 

SUSAN 

[Frightened.] 

She's here! 

CAROLINE 

Tell them I'm at home. 

MURTHA 

[Gomg to the arch.~\ 
Why wouldn't you be? Shure, Oi told thim that 
already. 

SUSAN 

[Anxiously."] 
Oh, Carrie! She's here! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 37 

CAROLINE 

[Severely. ,] 

Don't be an ass ! 

MURTHA 

[Calling out into the hall.~\ 
Come, Lord bless yer lovin' hearts! It's roight 
in here, yer to come ! 

[Re-entering.] 
Shure Oi'd trust her wid a million dollars. It was 
Mrs. Sanbury, it was, that sint me to you. 

CAROLINE 

Oh, I've her to thank for you, have I ? 

MURTHA 

Yis, m'am. Shure ye have. 
[Lawrence and Hildegarde Sanbury enter from 
the hall. He is a handsome vital looking man 
of twenty-five. He has a quick and ingenuous, 
volatile manner. Hildegarde, his wife, is a 
woman of thirty, of sympathetic and responsive 
nature, full of exuberant gratitude to Caroline, 
whom she has never met. In dress Hildegarde 
is the exact opposite of Caroline. She is 
scrupulously neat, but Caroline is a perfect 
conscience of every allure of fashion. They 
enter followed by Murtha, who goes up rear. 
Lawrence nods to Susan.] 



38 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 
[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

I'm very glad you've come. 

LAWRENCE 

Hildegarde, this is Mrs. Knollys. 
[Hubert enters quietly from the door leadmg to the 
basement. He is unnoticed amid the greetings. 
He goes nonchalantly towards window at left.] 

HILDEGARDE 

When I heard Larrie was coming to you, I just 
couldn't stay at home. 

LAWRENCE 

She wouldn't. So we — 

HILDEGARDE 

[Interrupting.] 
Oh, Larrie, you must let me speak! You've had 

Mrs. Knollys all to yourself for six long weeks — 
[Hubert turns as Lawrence goes to Susan.] 
You see I've heard so much about you. Larrie 

wrote me reams and reams of letters right from the 

beginning. 

CAROLINE 

\Purringly.] 

Yes. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 39 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, yes ! I've followed you every step you've 
taken. 

[Susan looks anxious and laughs a little hys- 
terically.] 

CAROLINE 

[Noticmg Hubert's presence.] 

Indeed ! 

hildegarde 
[Seeing Caroline's face change.] 
I hope we haven't intruded ! 

CAROLINE 

Not at all. Oh, Hubert, let me present you to 
Mr. and Mrs. Sanbury. 

HUBERT 

Ah! How do you do? 

[They exchange greetmgs.] 

CAROLINE 

I've persuaded Mr. Sanbury to accept the com- 
mission to remodel the house. 

HUBERT 

[Surprised.] 
Oh, have you! 

[Pause.] 



40 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDE GARDE 

[Continuing to Caroline.] 
Oh, it was wonderful for Larrie to be with you. 
You were eyes to him in Italy. 

CAROLINE 

Let me present you to Miss Ambie. 

[Pointedly. ~\ 
She was with us too. 
[Hubert notes this closely, though seeming not to 
listen.'] 

HLLDEGARDE 

[Surprised.'] 
Oh, were you? 

[Goes immediately to Susan.] 
Larrie wrote me you were taken ill in Switzerland, 
and that he and Mrs. Knollys went on alone. 

SUSAN 

[Nervously. ] 
Oh, dear no, I mean ... I ... It was really 
nothing serious. 

HILDEGARDE 

I hope you've recovered. 

SUSAN 

Oh, perfectly, thank you. I didn't miss much of 
the trip . . . You see it was really only . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 41 

CAROLINE 

[Seeing Hubert's eye on them.] 
Oh, Susan, it's nearly twelve. 

[To the others.] 
Excuse me. [Again to Susan] You might hail 
a taxi and settle the matter of servants for me. 

SUSAN 

[Anxiously.] 
Yes, yes, but hadn't I better — ? 

CAROLINE 

[Decisively, going to the hall with Susan.] 
The club for luncheon. One o'clock. 
[Susan exits.] 

MURTHA 

[Coming up from rear.] 
Ah, it do be good to see thim together again, eh? 

CAROLINE 

Did you want to ask me anything? 

MURTHA 

If it's a chambermaid ye want, me daughter 
Agnes — 

CAROLINE 

Would you mind closing the door? 



42 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

MURTHA 

Ah, not at all. 

[She crosses and closes the door, then returns.'] 

CAROLINE 

[Cuttmgly.] 
I mean behind you. 

MURTHA 

[Catching Caroline's eye and meaning.] 
Oh, yis, ra'ara. 

[She exits.] 

CAROLINE 

[Motioning Hildegarde to a chair.] 
Do I understand you run an Intelligence Office? 

hildegarde 
I've organized a general employment bureau in 
connection with the tenements. 

LAWRENCE 

But, my dear, it's hardly fair to Mrs. Knollys to 
send this old — 

HILDEGARDE 

[Interrupting.] 
We sent her daughter Agnes. You understand, 
only the derelicts come to us.; but you'll see, Mrs. 
Murtha will do her work well. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 43 

CAROLINE 

Tell me, do you really live among these people ? 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes, at the model tenement. Have you ever seen 
one? 

CAROLINE 

No! 

HILDEGARDE 

I'd be delighted to show you around. 

CAROLINE 

Yes. Miss Ambie and I will come sometime to- 
gether. 

HILDEGARDE 

Do, and take luncheon with us at our co-operative 
dining-room. 

LAWRENCE 

[To Caroline.] 
I wouldn't expect too much. You see, it's a fad 
of hers — Democracy and the Underdog. 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, no, that's my real work. 

HUBERT 

[Coming into the conversation.] 
What? 



44 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

We believe in giving the poor people better living 
conditions first; so that then they will be better able 
to fight for other things. 

HUBERT 

Yes, and make them discontented all along the line. 

HIEDEGARDE 

[Fervently.'] 
If only we could make them sufficiently discon- 
tented ! 

HUBERT 

[Taking up the newspaper.] 
I should say you were succeeding very well. Have 
you seen this series of furious articles on Factory 
Reform ? 

HIEDEGARDE 

[Looking at paper.] 
Yes. 

HUBERT 

What do you think of them? 

HIEDEGARDE 

I ought to approve of them. 

HUBERT 

Why? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 45 

HILDEGARDE 

Because I wrote them. 

HUBERT 

[Amazed.] 
What! You? 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes. They're mine. 

HUBERT 

You label these articles reform, but they read 
pretty much like anarchy to me. 

HILDEGARDE 

Do you know about our present factory condi- 
tions ? 

HUBERT 

[Grimly. 1 
Somewhat, to my cost. You've made me one of 
your horrible examples. 

HILDEGARDE 

What!! 

HUBERT 

I own the majority stock in the Homestead Mills. 

LAWRENCE 

[Nervously.'] 
Good Lord, Hildegarde! Your crowd haven't 
been attacking Mr. Knollys, have they? 



46 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Lawrence.] 
No one was mentioned by name. 
[To Hubert.] 
Your manager refused to show his stock sheet to 
our committee ; so we simply wrote up the mill. 

HUBERT 

Our manager has to compete with others. We 
give these people work. We don't force our hands 
to come to us. 

HILDEGARDE 

That's it. The whole system is wrong. The 
state must remedy it. Individuals can't. You've 
got to resort to the means of your lowest and most 
unscrupulous competitor; or leave the field. 

HUBERT 

Do you mind answering a few questions ? 

HILDEGARDE 

Not at all. 

HUBERT 

[To Caroline and Lawrence.] 
Excuse us. 
[He and Hildegarde go toward the hall. He takes 
some clippings from his pocket. ] 
In the first place you stated . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 47 

[They exit and pass out of sight, going toward the 
right, in earnest conversation. Caroline is 
sitting in the large divan chair at the left. 
Lawrence comes toward her.~\ 

LAWRENCE 

[Enthusiastic ally. ] 
Isn't she splendid! 

CAROLINE 

[Softly ironical.] 
You treat us all alike; don't you? 

LAWRENCE 

How? 

CAROLINE 

[Quietly.] 
She, too, is older than you. Isn't she? 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, a year or two. That doesn't matter. 

CAROLINE 

How chivalrous you are. But for your sake, she 
ought to be wiser. 

LAWRENCE 

What do you mean? 

CAROLINE 

Her radical theories about Democracy and — the 
great Unwashed. . . . Do you agree with them? 



48 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

lawrence 
I'm an artist. I take no side whatever. 

CAROLINE 

But don't you see, you'll have to take a side? 

lawrence 
Why? 

CAROLINE 

People of our class won't support you, if your wife 
attacks the very sources from which they pay you. 

LAWRENCE 

[With sudden anxiety, ] 
Oh, perhaps Mr. Knollys will resent what Hilde- 
garde has done, and won't care to give me the work. 
Is that what you mean? 

CAROLINE 

I mean your wife mustn't add to my difficulties. 

LAWRENCE 

[Sincerely distressed.'] 
Oh, Lord! In wrong the first crack out of the 
box; and I wanted you so much to like each other! 

CAROLINE 

Tell me, — is she really as frank as she seems ? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 49 

LAWRENCE 

Why, yes. What makes you ask that? 

CAROLINE 

I was a little startled when I learned you'd writ- 
ten her so definitely about our tour in Italy. 

LAWRENCE 

[Relieved*] 

Oh, that's all right. Hildegarde thinks nothing 
about that. 

CAROLINE 

But she mustn't give everybody credit for so much 
sympathetic understanding. 

[With a glance toward the hall,] 

LAWRENCE 

You mean your husband ! 

CAROLINE 

[Quickly.] 
Don't speak so loudly ! 
[With a change to a seductive, problematical man- 
ner.] 
I haven't told you everything about my life. I 
thought you guessed. 

LAWRENCE 

Why, surely, he wouldn't dare to misjudge you, 
would he? 



50 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

We move in a society that does not trust itself, 
so it is always suspicious. 

LAWRENCE 

I hope you'll forgive me. I'm just a fool about 
these things. 

CAROLINE 

[Seeing Hubert and Hildegarde approaching.] 
Pst ! Say nothing more. 

HUBERT 

[Re-entering from the hall.~\ 
[To Hildegarde.] 
If I'm on top, I know I'll treat the laborer as well 
as I can afford. If he's on top, I can't expect so 
much in return. They get a living wage. 

hildegarde 
You'd better take a trip down South and see how 
well they live. 

HUBERT 

Perhaps I shall. And then I'll want to see you 
again. 

hildegarde 
Do! 

[To the others.] 
Until then we part, good, class-conscious, cordial 
enemies. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 51 

HUBERT 

[Pointing to the news paper. ] 
Very well. And how about these articles? 

HILDEGARDE 

To-morrow we begin on your competitors. 

HUBERT 

Good! That's fair play. 

CAROLINE 

Hubert, would you mind showing Mr. Sanbury 
about the house? 

HUBERT 

Now? 

CAROLINE 

Yes. Mrs. Sanbury will remain with me. 

[HlLDEGARDE nods.] 
HUBERT 

We'll go this way. 

LAWRENCE 

Excuse me. 
[Lawrence and Hubert exit through hall and are 
seen mounting the stairs. ] 

CAROLINE 

[Points to a chair in the full light. ] 
You don't mind the light? 



52 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, not at all. 

CAROLINE 

[Speaking as she pulls up the shade full upon 

HlLDEGARDE.] 

I'm sure we shall understand each other thor- 
oughly; because we both want your husband to suc- 
ceed. 

HILDEGARDE 

It's fine of you to be so interested. He's never 
had a chance to prove what he can do. 

CAROLINE 

[Sitting with her bach to the light. ] 
My interest will excuse many personal questions. 

[Charmingly.] 
He being so young, we can discuss him and his 
future from the same point of view. 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes, Larrie for all his twenty -five years is just a 
great big boy. 

CAROLINE 

How did you come to live there in the tenements? 

HILDEGARDE 

Surely Larrie has told you! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 53 

CAROLINE 

But I never trust a husband to tell me all about 
his home. 

{Insinuatingly. ] 

If the wife loves him very much, he never really 
knows his circumstances. 

HILDEGARDE 

We've had no secrets from each other. We strug- 
gled on together right from the beginning. I some- 
times got disheartened, but Larrie never did. 

CAROLINE 

Ah ! Did he decide to live there ? 

HILDEGARDE 

No. I lived there first, and when we married, we 
decided to settle there together, so I might continue 
my work. 

CAROLINE 

But do you think the tenement is quite the — ah 
— the atmosphere for him to work in ? 

HILDEGARDE 

He hasn't complained; and offices cost lots of 
money. 

CAROLINE 

Yes. 



54 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

Your commission will enable him to start in busi- 
ness for himself ; and then we hope to afford a better 
place. 

CAROLINE 

Yes. But have you ever considered how your very 
work in the world might hinder him? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Puzzled.] 
In what way? 

CAROLINE 

Art has always been the luxury of a leisure class. 
It has always been supported by the patronage of 
wealth; and you can't expect that the people whom 
you attack, and publicly attack, are going to reply 
by using their influence to promote your husband. 

HILDEGARDE 

Then Lawrence must work his way without their 
influence. 

CAROLINE 

[With narrowing eyes.] 
In the school of adversity, eh? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Proudly.] 
That school has brought out the best in many 
artists ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 55 

CAROLINE 

And has killed thousands of others that we never 
hear of. My dear, the school of adversity is a very 
good school; provided you don't matriculate too 
early and continue too long. 

HILDEGARDE 

I'd rather continue just as we are now to the end 
of our days, than have him sell his soul and abandon 
all he's stood for. 

CAROLINE 

You would; but how about him? 

HILDEGARDE 

He would too ! 

CAROLINE 

Perhaps I know him better than you do. 

HILDEGARDE 

I don't think so. 

CAROLINE 

Then some day, you may have to reproach your- 
self for his failure. 

HILDEGARDE 
I? 

CAROLINE 

Yes. 



56 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

Why should he fail? 

CAROLINE 

Just because of his unusual qualities. The world 
at best is a cruel place. It gives its prizes to the 
ordinary. It martyrizes the exceptional person, be- 
cause it doesn't understand him, and what it doesn't 
understand, it fears ; and what it fears, it destroys, 
or worse than that, it allows to die unnoticed. The 
world will make your husband suffer, just because he 
is exceptional. 

HILDEGARDE 

I can't believe that ! 

CAROLINE 

[Sarcastically.] 
One must indeed be an optimist to be a fanatic. 
With your help I hoped to place him where I know 
he belongs. But I cannot ; if you oppose it. 
[Pause. ] 

HILDEGARDE 

I don't see how / stand in his way ! 

CAROLINE 

You have already made a difficulty with my hus- 
band. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 57 

HILDEGARDE 

How? 

CAROLINE 

My dear, you can hardly expect my husband to 
give your husband an expensive commission; when 
you spend your time writing articles that lower the 
value of the most important investment he holds. 

HILDEGARDE 

Then Lawrence will have to choose. 

CAROLINE 

Oh, no. You mustn't put that on him. You 
mustn't bind him by his love for you. For if he 
fails to choose properly, you will be forced to bear 
the burden of his bitterness. And there's nothing so 
bitter in the world as an artist's bitterness. 
[Looking at her closely. ] 

It won't come now. I grant you a few years more 
of his hopeful illusions and youthful courage; but 
then your awakening will come . . . when you are 
gray — at heart, and he still in his prime ; but with 
the sources of his faith run dry — eaten with disap- 
pointments, sick with postponements, his inspiration 
festered by discouragement; while he still knocks 
listlessly at the doors, which would be open to him 
now; but will be closed hereafter, when his oppor- 
tunities have passed him by. 



58 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

That can't be true ! 

CAROLINE 

[Continuing ruthlessly .] 
And in the cruel retrospect, then his awakening 
will come ; and he will see that it has been [Cynically'] 
what you call your " life-work " that has hindered 
him. And then, what will his love for you be worth 
to you or him? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Obstinately.] 
He has his work, I have mine. It's for him to 
choose. 

CAROLINE 

And is your muck-raking worth his career? 
Knowing that he loves you now, and will be in- 
fluenced by you, have you a right to make him 
choose ? 

HILDEGARDE 

No more than you ! 

CAROLINE 

There is this difference : — / do it for his sake 
purely. 

HILDEGARDE 

So do I! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 59 

CAROLINE 

I doubt it. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Passionately.] 
Don't you think it would be easier for me to see 
him settled? I've walked the floor at night! I've 
agonized over his career, while he's been sleeping like 
a child ! 

CAROLINE 

[Quickly.'] 
Ah, then there have been secrets ! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Contmumg.] 
Yes ! I've made it a point of honor not to allow 
him to spend one cent on me! 

[Suddenly.] 
You're looking at this dress ! I know it's shabby 
— You've noticed it — He hasn't . . . 

CAROLINE 

My dear, you mustn't feel sensitive about your 
clothes ! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Choking back her tears.] 
It's the first time that I ever was \ 



60 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

You must let me give you a gown or two. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Recoiling.] 
Oh, no ! I couldn't accept them — I couldn't ! 

CAROLINE 

But, my dear — 

HILDEGARDE 

[Proudly.] 
Excuse me, don't presume ! 

CAROLINE 

I hoped you'd understand. Your husband's pro- 
fession has a social side. There are people he must 
meet — people that will be of use to him. I want to 
arrange it. You won't object? 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, no ! 

CAROLINE 

It's always easy for a man — a dress suit and 
there you are. But we women are at a disadvantage 
without the proper equipment, and . . . 

HILDEGARDE 

Please leave me out of all your calculations. I 
shan't complicate matters. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 61 

CAROLINE 

My dear, I merely intended to save you from em- 
barrassment. 

HILDEGARDE 

I am very grateful. But I repeat, it's impossible 
I should accept anything from you. We belong to 
two totally different orders. 

CAROLINE 

Then as you're unwilling to meet the social re- 
quirements, you will understand perfectly, if you're 
not included in . . . 

HILDEGARDE 

Certainly. I shall not expect to be invited. 

CAROLINE 

I must compliment you, Mrs. Sanbury. You're 
stronger than I thought you were. 
[Pause. The two women look at each other. 

Hildegarde is dazed. Caroline is smilingly 

confident.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Coming down stairs.~\ 
We'll have a jolly job introducing Queen Victoria 
to the Renaissance. You've plenty of room ; that 
is, if you'll let me smash the conventional partitions. 



62 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Meanmgly.] 
I always like to smash conventional partitions ; 
provided the outside walls remain intact. Have you 
explained to Hubert? 

LAWRENCE 

He couldn't follow the sketch. 

CAROLINE 

[With a 'veiled sneer. ~\ 
You'll have to build models before he can see. 

LAWRENCE 

[After a slight hesitation.] 
Will you really need models ? 

CAROLINE 

I am afraid so. How long would it take you? 

LAWRENCE 

Well, you know, I've left my old firm ; and I'll first 
have to look about for larger quarters. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Involuntarily. 1 
Oh! 

LAWRENCE 

[Confidently.'] 
I've been thinking of changing. It's only been a 
question of the proper place. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 63 

CAROLINE 

[Knowingly smiling at Hildegarde.] 
Oh, of course. But I've an idea. In insisting 
upon models, I appreciate I am asking the unusual; 
but I want to expedite matters. 

LAWRENCE 

Yes ... Yes .. . 

CAROLINE 

You've seen the fourth storey? 

LAWRENCE 

Yes 

CAROLINE 

Couldn't you build your models there ? 

LAWRENCE 

{Eagerly.} 
Splendidly ! 

[Relieved.] 
That would solve everything; wouldn't it, Hilde- 
garde ? 

[To Caroline.] 
And I could consult with you at every step. 

CAROLINE 

Yes. 



64 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

And in that way, we needn't interfere with your 
plans at the tenement. 

HlLDEGARDE 

Oh! 

CAROLINE 

Perhaps you'd better advise with your wife before 
you decide. I'll speak with Hubert. Excuse me. 
[She exits through the hall.~\ 

LAWRENCE 

[Watches her out of the tail of his eye. As soon as 

she is off, his manner changes, and he comes to 

HlLDEGARDE in hushed excitement. He takes 

her hands and speaks quickly.] 

I'm glad, old girl, you didn't butt into any of my 

bluffs ! I got a cold sweat when she spoke about 

models ! 

[Wiping his brow.~\ 
Phew! That was a poser! But did you see me 
do it? 

[Imitating his former manner.] 
" Just looking for a proper place." 

[With a flourish of his hand.] 
Money no object. Did you see me? With not 
enough to the good to keep the sheriff off any place 
for a single month! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 65 

[Sitting.'] 

That fourth storey is too good to be true ! 
[Devoutly.] 

God bless the ugliness of Queen Victoria! God 
bless the rich with big houses and small families ! 
Don't wake me ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Then you're going to accept her top floor? 

LAWRENCE 

[Flabbergasted to an echo.] 
Am I going to accept her . . .? Watch me! 
I've never told you ; but I haven't been able to work 
there in the tenements. This addre.ss alone will get 
me credit for materials. And right now, I'm in no 
position to deny her anything. 

HILDEGARDE 

Evidently. 

LAWRENCE 

[Rubbvng his chin.] 
Gosh! The old man was pretty mum about the 
plan. 

[Suddenly.'] 
He may be sore about those articles of yours ! I 
hope they haven't queered it. 



66 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, I fancy she'll arrange it. 

LAWRENCE 

I hope she will. 

[Suddenly.] 
Golly, you don't seem to realize what this job 
means to me ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Perhaps I do, even more than you. 

LAWRENCE 

[Intensely.] 
Money ! That's what it means . . . Money ! A 
thing we've never had, and a thing we've got to get ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Is money everything? 

LAWRENCE 

Yes, now — everything. . . . Money ! I want 
money — money to be free to do things — money to 
get things for you. Do you think I like to see you 
wearing rags like this? 

[Pointing to her dress.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[With a quick pain.] 
Oh, as for me — 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 67 

LAWRENCE 

I've had enough of the tenements ! I've never told 
you — 

HILDEGARDE 

Larrie ! ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Excitedly. ,] 
That's all right, my dear. You're a fanatic about 
some things. I don't interfere with you, and you 
mustn't interfere with me ! 

[Chcmge.] 
Perhaps you'd better go. ... I mean if you're 
not in sympathy with the scheme, for God's sake, 
don't hang on. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Slowly.'] 
There's lots that I could say, Larrie. . . . 

LAWRENCE 

Yes, I know, but not here. Listen — Open your 
head! I've got to nail this job. I want to do it on 
my own hook. Then if I take it to a firm, I collar 
some of the swag and get some credit for my work. 
... I may never wing a chance to start like this 
again. 
[She is about to say something but he continues.] 



68 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

We're broke — and no instalment until the plans 
and models are accepted. Here I get a place rent 
free, materials on tick, with Lawrence Sanbury I-n-c 
upon the signs. . . . I'll incorporate my debts. 
Otherwise, back again into an old thirty a week job 
to sweat for the other fellow all my life. 

[Quickly giving Hildegarde her coat.] 

Hildegarde, here- — take; your rags and run. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Quietly.] 
Shall I wait luncheon? 

LAWRENCE 

Hang luncheon. I'm going to eat this job. 

HILDEGARDE 

But on your first day home, after*. . 

LAWRENCE 

There'll be lots of days like this coming. 

[Holding her coat.] 
Here — here she comes. Just say good-by. 
[Enter Caroline from the hall.] 

CAROLINE 

Well, I've spoken with my husband. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 69 

LAWRENCE 

[Restrained.] 

Yes . . .? 

CAROLINE 

He thinks it an admirable plan for you to work 
here. 

LAWRENCE 

[Relieved.] 

Ah, then that's settled ! 

CAROLINE 

So we can begin immediately . . . that is . . . 
if — 

[Looks at HlLDEGARDE.] 
HILDEGARDE 

I was just going. 

[Caroline is silent.'] 
Good-by, Mrs. Knollys. 

CAROLINE 

[With feigned surprise.] 
Oh! 

[Then in a commonplace tone.] 
Good-by. I shan't forget your invitation to the 
tenements. 



70 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

Excuse me, Hildegarde, I'll be home — ah — 
shortly. 

[Hildegarde goes quickly to the arch, and exits 
through the hall.'] 

[Lawrence makes a move to follow her, then pauses 
perplexed, Caroline watches him narrowly.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Scratching his head.] 
By Jove! What makes a fellow a brute some- 
times to the woman he cares for? 

CAROLINE 

[Slowly. ] 

It's the artist in you, Lawrence, that is instinc- 
tively unscrupulous toward anything that hinders its 
development. 

LAWRENCE 

But Hildegarde wouldn't hinder me! 

CAROLINE 

Not intentionally, certainly not. She's an excep- 
tional person. 

[Sittmg.] 
I'm sorry she doesn't like me. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 71 

LAWRENCE 

[Fighting against his own conviction.] 
What makes you think she doesn't like you? 

CAROLINE 

She has her — ah — principles. Unfortunately 
they oppose everything I stand for. 

LAWRENCE 

You don't know her, she . . . 

CAROLINE, 

Perhaps not, and I'm so sorry ; for I hoped we 
should agree about you. 

LAWRENCE 

But she must see how much you mean to me, and — 

CAROLINE 

Perhaps you've been too frank with her. 

LAWRENCE 

I never conceal anything from Hildegarde. 

CAROLINE 

[Ironically.'] 
No. . . . 

LAWRENCE 

[Continuing.] 
And I'd hate any person that made me lie ! 



72 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Sitting disconsolately.] 
What can I do? 

CAROLINE 

That you must decide yourself. You stand at a 
crossing, Lawrence. The one road means the old 
limitations and the commonplace: the other leads to 
freedom and opportunity. It's difficult to choose, 
because she loves you . . . dearly. 

LAWRENCE 

Of course she does ! 

CAROLINE 

Therefore it's quite natural she should resent any 
one having the power to do for you what she would 
like to do; but can't. I'd feel that way myself, 
if . . . 

LAWRENCE 

If what? 

CAROLINE 

If I loved you the way she does. If I weren't 
ambitious for your great work ! 

LAWRENCE 

But she wants me to do big work. 

CAROLINE 

[Shaking her head.] 
You feel things in you that she never dreamed of. 
That's why . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 73 

[With a change. ~\ 
But I oughtn't make you conscious. 

LAWRENCE 

What is it? 

CAROLINE 

[With a show of reluctance.] 
That's why you aren't at your best, when you're 
with her. Now there, I've said it. 

LAWRENCE 

But I haven't had the chance of really explaining 
to her all I want to do, and . . . 

CAROLINE 

[ Unscrupulously. ] 
An artist justifies himself by doing: not explain- 
ing! Consider everything that helps you to your 
end as good. That is the conscience of an artist. 
His work is always greater than his life. 

LAWRENCE 

By Jove, I always see clearer when I talk to 
you! 

CAROLINE 

[Passionately.] 
I am unscrupulous for the best in you ! 



74 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Taking her hands.'] 
You're wonderful ! 

CAROLINE 

I mustn't be mistaken in you ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Kissmg her hands.] 
You won't be. 

CAROLINE 

I have a problem too, because of you. 

LAWRENCE 

[Dropping her hands.] 
Yes, I know. 

CAROLINE 

And you must justify me as well. We made a 
compact. Have you forgotten it? 

LAWRENCE 

The afternoon we left Florence. 

CAROLINE 

And climbed the hills toward Fiesole . . . alone. 

LAWRENCE 

[Rapt.] 
In the flaming orange scarfs of mist, with the 
whole world behind us in the valley. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 75 

CAROLINE 

Where you said the world should always be for 
the artist with the vision and the will to create a 
new form of art. You were splendid then! 

LAWRENCE 

And afterward, the long ride on to Brescia and 
Como and — 

CAROLINE 

Psch! That lies behind us. 

[Pause. With a change. ] 
I thought that memory belonged to us alone. 

LAWRENCE 

It does ! 

CAROLINE 

[Raising her finger.] 
You shared it. 

LAWRENCE 

Forget that, please. 

CAROLINE 

I hope the others will. 



[Up stairs.] 
Will I hang the things up here, sir? 



76 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

Hubert's voice 
[Up stairs.] 
Yes, just put them in the closet, please. 

CAROLINE 

[Quickly to Lawrence.] 
Sit down. 
[He starts to sit m a chair near her. She povnts to 
one at right of stage.] 
No ; over there. 
[He goes quickly to the other side. She continues.] 
We'll lunch together. The Colony Club at one 
o'clock. 

LAWRENCE 

I thought that Hildegarde might — 

CAROLINE 

[Interrupting peremptorily.] 
I must see you. 

LAWRENCE 

But on my first day home — 

CAROLINE 

[Impatiently.] 
Between Susan's nervousness and your thought- 
lessness, I . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 77 

LAWRENCE 

Very well. 

[Enter Hubert from the hall.~\ 

HUBERT 

H'm ! Still talking over plans ? 

LAWRENCE 

[Rising, embarrassed.] 
Yes . . . yes . . . and I want to thank you, Mr. 
Knollys. 

HUBERT 

Me? For what? 

LAWRENCE 

The fourth storey. It'll be a great help to me. 
[Hubert looks perplexed.] 

CAROLINE 

You know, I have asked Mr. Sanbury to build his 
models there. 

HUBERT 

[Grimly.] 
Ah . . . have you! I didn't know. 

LAWRENCE 

[Filling m the awkward pause.] 
Then you can see exactly how the rooms will look. 



78 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

Oh, as for me . . . [Smiles. ~\ Quite so. Very 
kind of you — very. Where's your wife? 

LAWRENCE 

She's already gone. 

HUBERT 

[Sarcastically.] 
If you should see her again, you might tell her 
that I've decided to go South immediately. 

LAWRENCE 

[Jerking at his watch.] 
Yes — ah . . . She'll be delighted to hear that 
. . . and ... ah ... I was delighted to meet you, 
Mr. Knollys ; and if you'll excuse me — I'll — I'll 
... be going now. 

[He stands awkwardly. Hubert goes to the hall, 
then turns to Lawrence.] 

HUBERT 

Good morning. 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, good-by, Mrs. Knollys. 

[To Hubert.] 
Good-by, Mr. Knollys. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 79 

CAROLINE 

Good-bj. 
[Hubert nods. Lawrence exits. Pause. ] 

HUBERT 

[Laughmg softly.] 
Caroline, I think your latest is a light-weight! 

CAROLINE 

[Changing the subject.] 
You're going South? 

HUBERT 

I hope you'll endure my absence. 
[Pause.'] 

What was your object in giving your young man 
the impression that you had to consult me in any- 
thing? 

CAROLINE 

I generally consult you. 

HUBERT 

Yes. After you've completed your arrangements. 
It's your house. I've nothing to say. But I see 
now why you needed Elsie's room. 
[A furious knock is heard in the hall. They both 
start as Murtha enters.] 



80 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

MURTHA 

[Proudly.'] 
Ah, did ye hear me knock? 

CAROLINE 

What is it? 

MURTHA 

A young lady's in th' front hall. 

[To Hubert.] 
She wants to see you, Mr. Knowllez. 

HUBERT 

To see me? 

MURTHA 

[Hesitating.] 
She says she's from th' Cushtoms office, so she 
says. 

HUBERT 

[Grimly to Caroline.] 
I fancy it's about your trunks. 

CAROLINE 
[TO MURTHA.] 

Send her in here. 

MURTHA 

Shure Oi will — whoy wouldn't Oi ? 
[Exits to hall.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 81 

HUBERT 

Why should the young lady want to see me? 

CAROLINE 

Have you money with you? 

HUBERT 

[Taking out his bill case.'] 
Yes. 

CAROLINE 

[With a smile.'] 
I gave her my card. 

HUBERT 

But — 

CAROLINE 

[Taking his bill case and going to window.] 
Let me see. All she's come for is more money. 
[Hubert during the above goes toward the hall. 
Caroline's bach is to him. Emily Madden 
enters nervously from the right. She is a 
young woman of about twenty-eight. Hubert 
makes a quick recoil of amazement and a half- 
smothered exclamation: " Emily ! " She, see- 
ing Caroline, gives him a quick gesture of 
silence.] 

EMILY 

[In a breathless staccato and a forbidding manner.] 
This is Mr. Knollys, I believe. 



82 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

Yes. 

CAROLINE 

[Turning and coming down.~\ 
I hope you've had no difficulty. 

EMILY 

You evidently did not understand. 

CAROLINE 

Oh, I see. In that case, why, of course, I wish 
to pay you for any further — 

EMILY 

[Violently.] 
Please ! 

HUBERT 

Caroline I 

CAROLINE 

Oh! 

EMILY 

Mrs. Knollys, all your trunks are held. 

CAROLINE 

[Savagely.] 
The insolence ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 83 

EMILY 

It was the only way to save you from a charge of 
smuggling and . . . 

CAROLINE 

Indeed ! 

EMILY 

I couldn't make you realize it. That's why I've 
come to see your husband. 

CAROLINE 

[With a smile. ,] 
Thank you very much. 

HUBERT 

Caroline, you'd better let me settle this. 

CAROLINE 

[Crossing to the hall.] 
By all means. You always settle things so ade- 
quately. 

[To Emily.] 
Good morning. 
[She starts to go up stairs, then turns and says sig- 
nificantly to Hubert:] 
Oh, your purse ! 
[She throws it gracefully over the balustrade. He, 
standing below, catches it. She continues up 



84 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

stairs. He matches her out of sight, then turns 
and comes down to Emily.] 

HUBERT 

[Giving way to his astonishment.] 
Emily ! I'm all in the dark ! How are you mixed 
up in this? 

EMILY 

[Quickly.] 
I left the newspaper and got a position in the 
Customs. This morning I saw her name on the list 
of passengers. She fell into the hands of one of the 
sourest old inspectors. He found some jewels in a 
sachet bag. Then he caught her in a lie. As usual, 
he asked her to reconsider her declaration. She 
refused . . . 

HUBERT 

[ Unconsciously. ] 
The damned fool! 

EMILY 

Then he insisted she be searched. 

HUBERT 

Naturally. 

EMILY 

As I was standing there, the officers deputed me 
to look her over. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 85 

HUBERT 

[Appalled.] 

But she didn't know who you were, did she? 

EMILY 

Oh, no, but I took the chance to tell her of the 
penalty: ten thousand dollars' fine, or two years' 
imprisonment, or both. 

HUBERT 

I hope that sobered her ! 

EMILY 

Judge for yourself. She said she had a list, and 
gave me this envelope. 

[Giving him an envelope out of her bag.~\ 
Open it. 

HUBERT 

[Opening it.] 
Two one hundred dollar bills. 

EMILY 

One for my partner. There were two of us. 

HUBERT 

[Putting envelope on table.] 
The same old game. 



86 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

EMILY 

I felt like throwing it into her face; but then I 
thought of you, and held my temper. The inspec- 
tors were waiting. 

HUBERT 

What did you do? 

EMILY 

I told your wife I'd tend to everything, and got 
her off. Then I reported for her that she had re- 
considered, had nothing on her person, she was ill 
and didn't know what things were dutiable; and 
therefore wanted all her stuff to be appraised. 

HUBERT 

Good! And then? 

EMILY 

Then I tried to 'phone you everywhere, and finally 
I had to take the chance of even meeting — her 
again, and come right here to tell you. 

HUBERT 

You little thoroughbred. 

EMILY 

Hubert, do nothing until you hear from them. 
Dispute nothing, but make her stick to the story 
that I framed up for her, and pay on their appraisal. 
I hope I've done right. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 87 

HUBERT 

Right ! I don't know how to thank you. 

EMILY 

Return this to your wife with my compliments. 
[Pomts to envelope.'] 

HUBERT 

I guess you're all in, Emily. 

EMILY 

Oh, don't mind about me. 

HUBERT 

Filthy business, this. 

[Suddenly anxious.'] 
There'll be no consequences for you? 

EMILY 

I guess not. 

HUBERT 

[Walking about.] 
I don't know how it is. She never learns. She 
does exactly what she pleases. Experience means 
nothing to her ; because in some way she always man- 
ages to get protected, no matter what she does. 
She's skated over thin ice all her life — she courts 
the danger signals ; and j ust when anybody else 



88 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

would fall through, an unknown somebody reaches 
her a hand out of the universe and lands her safe ! 
Gad! and to think that it was you that helped her! 

EMILY 

I don't think that would appeal to her sense of 
humor. 

HUBERT 

Did she bring over much stuff? 

EMILY 

They said about six thousand, off hand. 

HUBERT 

Six thou . . . Phew! Well, that's her affair. 
But sit down a moment. 
[He puts her on settle, then sits at right of the table.'] 

Tell me, how did you get into the Customs office? 

EMILY 

I got tired of the paper. My friend Hildegarde 
Sanbury suggested the customs, and helped me get it. 

HUBERT 

Oh, Mrs. Sanbury's a friend of yours. 

EMILY 

Yes, why? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 89 

HUBERT 

They were here this morning. 

EMILY 

Were they? Isn't Hildegarde fine? 

HUBERT 

Tell me about him! 

EMILY 

You mean Lawrence? 

HUBERT 

Yes. 

EMILY 

They say he's a genius, full of all wonderful 
things, and just waiting for his opportunity to ex- 
press them. 

HUBERT 

Yes, just the type! 

EMILY 

What type? 

HUBERT 

Do you know where he and Caroline met? 

EMILY 

I've no idea; except that they spent some time to- 
gether in Italy. 



90 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

What was he doing there? 

EMILY 

Studying and making sketches. Hildegarde 
slaved and saved every cent she could to send him 
over. 

HUBERT 

So this is her latest ! 

EMILY 

What do you mean? 

HUBERT 

I wonder if I can explain it. Caroline has a 
mania for depredating the next generation. She 
poses to herself as the heroine of a belated romance. 

EMILY 

But she knows Lawrence is married; doesn't she? 

HUBERT 

She prefers them married. Takes all the perfume 
and the blossoms, and lets the wife grub at the roots. 
She likes to be the destiny and let the wife assume 
the utility. Does he love his wife? 

EMILY 

Why, of course, devotedly. That's the finest 
thing about him. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 91 

HUBERT 

Better yet. She enjoys making a test of her 
power. 

EMILY 

[Impulsively.] 
Hildegarde's the best in the world, Hubert, and . . . 

HUBERT 

Then I pity her. 

EMILY 

You don't mean your wife will hurt Hildegarde, 
do you? 

HUBERT 

{Bitterly.'] 

She won't bleed; that is, outwardly. She'll just 
wake up and find her happiness evaporated. 

EMILY 

You mustn't allow it. She's just a child before 
a sophisticated person. 

HUBERT 

[Desperately.] 
What can I do? Caroline has done this all her 
life; and as she operates under the protection of my 
name, I've had apparently to stand by and sanc- 
tion it. 



92 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

EMILY 

Can't you stop her? 

HUBERT 

[Agam walking about. ~\ 
How? You'd respect her if she showed one real 
emotion. She's physically chaste; but is absolutely 
unchastened in soul; and yet she feeds on the souls 
of others. That's how she keeps young. She's a 
mental Bluebeard, and I'm the hotel clerk for her 
castle ... I know where all her miserable relics 
hang . . . What rooms and what days of their lives 
they've offered her ! 

EMILY 

Why, this is horrible, Hubert! 

HUBERT 

[Contimung,"] 

I'd give my eyes to stop her! If not for the sake 
of others, for my own sake! She's broken me! I 
tried to get free for years at the beginning. But she 
plays so absolutely safe . . . She protects herself 
so completely that she is unassailable. 

EMILY 

Can't he be warned? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 93 

HUBERT 

Not if she gets him first. Her kind of poison 
strikes them blind. There's nothing to be done for 
him. Just you keep out of her way. 

EMILY 

Don't worry. I will. Well, I must get back to 
work. 

[She starts to go again.] 

HUBERT 

My dear, why will you work? Why won't you let 
me take care of you? 

EMILY 

I wish to earn my own living, Hubert. You know 
that. 

HUBERT 

Yes. But I want to ask you . . . Why have you 
avoided me for this long time? 

EMILY 

Hubert, I didn't want to write it; but it's over 
between us. 

HUBERT 

[After a pause.'] 
Yes, I've realized that. 



94 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

EMILY 

[Very tenderly.] 

Hubert, I've no reproach to make you ; and I don't 
want you to reproach me, or to feel any bitterness. 
What we gave was a free gift from both — a free 
gift and no regrets. A break had to come some 
time, I suppose ; and as soon as I met him, I — I 
realized that it had to come right away. 
[Looking away from Hubert.] 

He asked no questions ; but that's why you haven't 
seen or heard from me. Hubert, I'm going to marry 
Michael Krellin. 

HUBERT 

[After a pause.] 
Good luck to you. 

[He takes her hand in both of his.] 
But I thought you didn't believe in marriage. 

EMILY 

Neither did he. But I'm afraid we both believe in 
marriage now. I can't tell you how it happened; 
but it's different, Hubert . . . That's all ... I 
know you'll understand. 

[Hubert nods and releases her hand. She goes to- 
ward the hall.] 

HUBERT 

Emily . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 95 

[She stops and turns.'] 
We've been good chums for a long time; and, do 
you know, you've never allowed me to give you any- 
thing? 

EMILY 

That was our agreement, Hubert. 

HUBERT 

Yes ; but I want you to promise me this. If you 
should ever get into a blind alley, and need anything, 
a friend or money, and need it without strings, I 
want you to think of me. I'd like to feel you'd do 
that much for the sake of Auld Lang Syne. 

EMILY 

[Coming to him.] 
All right. I promise. 

[Extends her hand.] 
Good-by. 

HUBERT 

[Quietly, as he takes her hand.] 
Krellin's a very lucky fellow. 

EMILY 

That's like you, Hubert. 

HUBERT 

I'll call you a cab. 



96 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

EMILY 

Never mind. Don't come with me, please. I'll 
run right along. 

[She turns and says very tenderly:] 
Good-by. 

HUBERT 

Good-by. 
[She exits through the hall. After she is off, 
Hubert stands looking after her until the front 
door is heard to close. He drops his hands dis- 
consolately and walks mechanically to the table 
at center. His eyes fall upon the envelope still 
lying there. He takes it up. His mood 
changes. He gets a sudden idea. He looks 
up, throws the envelope down on the table again 
with an angry gesture, and goes with vehement 
determination toward the stairs. He pauses at 
the bottom of the stairs, shakes his head per- 
plexed, and then decides upon a different attack. 
He calls very pleasantly :] 

HUBERT 

Ah, Caroline! 

CAROLINE 

[Up stairs.] 
Yes. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 97 

HUBERT 

I'd like to see you for a moment. 

CAROLINE 

Are you alone? 

HUBERT 

[Still pleasantly.] 
Yes. Oh, yes. 

CAROLINE 

I'll be right down. 
[Hubert walks round the room gathering his confi- 
dent anger with every step. He hears her com- 
ing, controls his humor, and stands with his 
hands behind him, full of exultant exasperation, 
as she enters. ] 

CAROLINE 

Did you settle it? 

HUBERT 

[Deliberately giving her a chair.] 
One moment. 

CAROLINE 

Susan is waiting me for luncheon. 

HUBERT 

[Decidedly.] 
Very sorry. 



98 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Inqtwrmgly.] 

Well? 

HUBERT 

Very sorry, but I'm afraid Vll need some of your 
time this afternoon. 

CAROLINE 

[After sitting, looks up demurely.] 
What for? 

HUBERT 

[With great distinctness.] 
The Customs office. 

CAROLINE 

Oh, no. You ventured to criticize me. You 
asked me to leave it to you. I do. 

HUBERT 

[Losing control.] 
About six thousand dollars' duty for you to pay ! 

CAROLINE 

I ? Perfectly ridiculous ! I settled it. Of course, 
if you . . . 

HUBERT 

[Angrily.] 
You did, eh? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 99 

CAROLINE 

\LaughmgJ\ 

If you were fool enough to let that woman — 

HUBERT 

If " that woman " treated you as you deserve — 

CAROLINE 

I think I treated her very well. 

HUBERT 

It was only out of consideration for me that she — 

CAROLINE 

Oh, for y<m! 

HUBERT 

Yes, for me. If " that woman " didn't happen to 
be a friend of mine, you might be publicly disgraced 
by now as well as I! 

CAROLINE 

[Laughing.] 
A friend of yours ! Why, really, Hubert, I must 
say you have strange friends — A woman that 
would use her friendship to extort money . . . 

HUBERT 

[Enraged.'] 
Listen to me! Your trunks are in the hands of 
the appraisers. You've been caught in a ridiculous 
he ; and she — 



100 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[ Triumphantly. ] 
She can't say that, because I bribed her! Your 
friend ! 

HUBERT 

[Flinging the envelope on the table.] 
There's your two hundred dollars, and you'll have 
to pay six thousand dollars on your trunks, and be 
grateful to Miss Madden for having saved you ! 

CAROLINE 

To whom? 

HUBERT 

[With great confidence.] 
Miss Emily Madden, the woman you maligned. 

CAROLINE 

[In a moment of rage.] 
She looked me over! She dared! 

HUBERT 

[Gloating.] 
It was Miss Madden. 
[He walks away from her, turns with supreme ela- 
tion.] 

Yes. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 101 

CAROLINE 

[In a peal of laughter. ~\ 
Then I understand perfectly why she came to you ! 
But I'm not so easy. The matter of the trunks was 
settled. 

[Walking to the hall.'] 
Of course, if you feel that you are subject to her 
extortions, or that perhaps you want to give her a 
token of your gratitude, that's your affair. 
[Turning to him.'] 
It would really be indelicate of you to insist that 
J should pay your mistress! 

HUBERT 

[Foiled and following her furiously.] 
You . . . [Chokes.] 

CAROLINE 

[Very pleasantly.] 
Good morning. Susan is waiting. 

[She exits as the Curtain descends.] 



ACT II 



ACT II 

The stage presents the combined kitchen and living 
room of the Sanbury -flat in the model tene- 
ments, New York City. The whole atmosphere 
betrays great neatness, but equal constriction 
and narrowness of quarters. At the first 
glance, the room is apparently all doors. The 
walls are done in waterproof white. There is a 
window in the rear wall, a little to the left. 
This opens on a fire-escape, and gives a view of 
other tenements in the rear. There is a shade 
over the window, which is further hung with 
chmtz curtains, that are visibly cheap, but in 
good taste as far as the design is concerned. 
In front of the window is an upholstered win- 
dow-seat. To the left of the window is a small 
serving table, with cruets of vinegar and oil, 
and a salad-bowl upon it. Below this table 
hang sundry cooking utensils. Next to the 
table stands the gas-stove with a coffee-pot 
upon it. High on the wall above the gas-stove 
is a gas-meter of the kind commonly in use in 

the tenements. It is automatic, and releases a 
105 



106 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

supply of gas only when a quarter is dropped 
into it. At the left of the stove and in the 
corner of the room is a combination sink and 
wash-tub of white porcelain ware. The dwell- 
ers m the tenements use the wash-tub as an ice- 
box. At the opening of the act, a four-fold 
screen hides both the sink and the stove from 
view. However, above the screen, a towel rack 
with clean dish towels is visible. In the upper 
left wall of the room is a door leading to Law- 
rence's bedroom. Below this, there is a com- 
bination wall book-case and mirror. The book 
shelf is jammed with well-used books. Directly 
underneath the book-case stands a flat table 
upon which are a typewriter and a telephone. 

In the rear wall of the room, to the right of the 
window, is the door leading from the hall. To 
the right of this is the dumb-waiter shaft, with 
a sliding panel door. In the right wall of the 
room is the entrance to Hildegarde's bedroom. 
A little below this, is the door leading to the 
bathroom. 

There is an electric bell above the hall door, another 
electric bell above the dumb-waiter. Next to 
the dumb-waiter is a speaking tube, which re- 
joices in a very shrill whistle. 

Running around the whole room is a plate shelf with 
colored plates upon it. There are framed pic- 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 107 

tures of Tolstoy, Ruskin and Prmce Kropotkin 
conspicuously hung upon the walls. 

At the center of the room is a large mission table, 
set with a plate, knife, cup and saucer, napkin 
and a bowl of fruit. The morning newspaper 
lies opened. Between the dumb-waiter and the 
door to Hikdegarde's room is a large mission 
cupboard. There are five chaws m the room. 
Three are around the table, and one is placed 
before the typewriting stand. There is a hat- 
rack upon the wall next to the hall door. 

It is about eleven-thirty in the morning, some weeks 
after the preceding act. The blind is up, and 
the room is very light. 

[Off rear a hand-organ is heard playing. Hilde- 
garde is discovered at the typewriter. She 
works on, disregarding the hum of incoherent 
tenement life about her. The organ stops. 
A street vendor is heard hoarsely crying his 
wares :] 

vendor's voice 

Apples ! Apples ! Ten cents a qu-a-art ! 

woman's voice 

[0#-] 
Hey -hey ! Epples ! Yas — you ! Noomber seven ! 
A helfft quart! 



108 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

>or's V 

All right, number seven! 

woman's voice 

lOff-l 

I Schick de nikkel down. 
[The Vendor's voice ceases. Suddenly the sound of 
a window crashing is heard quite close. Hiede- 
garde pauses attentively. Lawrence bursts 
into the room from the left. He appears in a 
dressing gown, with a ball in his hand. He is 
shaved, but still has lather on his face.} 

LAWRENCE 

Look here ! 

HIEDEGARDE 

Was it your window? 

LAWRENCE 

Almost my head. Say, does anybody own those 
brats ? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Goes quickly to the window, throws it up and calls 
out:~\ 

Vincent! Joey! Don't run away. I told you, 
you mustn't play ball in the court. I'll have to tell 
your mothers. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 109 

LAWRENCE 

[Giving her the ball, which she puts on a shelf. ] 
A lot of good that'll do. 

HILDEGARDE 

It's hard to be severe with them. 

[Lawrence goes toward the bathroom.] 
They oughtn't play in the street. Little Jamie 
Kirk was killed by a car last week. 

LAWRENCE 

There's plenty of them left. 
[The dumb-waiter whistle gives a piercing scream.'] 
What's loose again? 

[He opens the tube, listens and yells down.] 
No ! We don't want any apples ! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Opening dumb-waiter.] 
Wait, Lawrence. 

[She calls down quietly.] 
Mrs. Pannakin is number seven on the other side. 

[Shuts dumb-waiter door.] 
Will you have breakfast now? 

LAWRENCE 

What time is it? 



110 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

[Taking screen away from stove.] 
About half-past eleven. 

[She tries to light gas-stove.'] 

LAWRENCE 

We've got to hurry. 

[Turning.] 
What's the matter now? 

HILDEGARDE 

The meter. Have you a quarter? 

LAWRENCE 

[Giving her a com.] 
No credit there, eh ! 

[He goes into bathroom.] 

[She gets up on chair and puts coin in the meter, 

winds it and proceeds to heat the coffee.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[Calling to him.] 
It'll be ready in a moment. You finish dressing. 
[Lawrence enters from the bathroom with a towel, 
drying his face.] 

LAWRENCE 

What have you ordered for lunch? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 111 

HILDEGARDE 

I told Mrs. Pannakin to take especial pains to-day. 

LAWRENCE 

[Grimly disgusted.] 
Mrs. Knollys will enjoy one of Mrs. Pannakin's 
co-operative dinners; where all the last week's vege- 
tables co-operate to make this week's soups ! I 
wonder why they want to come here anyway. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Slowly.] 
I can't imagine. 

LAWRENCE 

[Reproachfully.'] 
You invited them. I tried to head it off. 

HILDEGARDE 

They are your friends ; and you know I never miss 
a chance of interesting rich people in this philan- 
thropy. Go, dear, and finish dressing. 
[He exits to his room.] 
[She takes a script from the typewriter, folds and 
signs it, then addresses it in an envelope, and 
stamps it. She hums while she works. Law- 
rence re-enters carrying his collar, tie, coat and 
vest. He wrestles with his collar and then 
throws the other things down.] 



112 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

This life is killing me! I'm as nervous as a cat! 

HILDEGARDE 

Didn't you sleep well? 

LAWRENCE 

[Pointing to the typewriter.] 
Sleep ! What time was it when you began banging 
that instrument of torture? 

HILDEGARDE 

I had to get my copy ready for this evening's 
edition. 

LAWRENCE 

[Continuing to dress.] 
What is it? 

HILDEGARDE 

A report of last evening's Labor Meeting for Krel- 
lin's column. 

LAWRENCE 

You know, you'll have to stop this kind of thing. 
That's if you care anything for me. 
[She gets butter out of improvised ice-box m the 
wash-tubs. ,] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 113 

HILDEGARDE 

[Cheerfully.'] 
My little writing and my job here are at present 
our only means of support. 

[She puts butter on table.] 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, don't rub it in. 

[With a change.] 

I'm sorry enough to see you slave the way you do ; 
but Krellin and your friends are attacking the very 
people from whom I'm going to get my living. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Cheerfully.] 
Yes, Mrs. Knollys took the trouble to inform me 
of that some weeks ago. 

LAWRENCE 

Well, they don't like to hear how their money is 
made. 

HILDEGARDE 

There's very little danger of their listening to me. 

LAWRENCE 

And how about Mr. Knollys? 



114 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

He and I understand each other completely. 

LAWRENCE 

Yes, no doubt. But this is how it's worked out 
for me. I've finished the preliminary plans, and 
should have got the first instalment to begin my 
work three days ago. 

HILDEGARDE 

Well? 

LAWRENCE 

[Contmuing.] 
Your articles have driven him down South, to look 
over that factory of his. 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, I'm glad of that. 

LAWRENCE 

I'm glad you're glad. But I get not a cent till he 
O.K.'s the plans. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Cutting bread for him.] 
When does he get back? 

LAWRENCE 

He was expected yesterday. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 115 

[Turning away.~\ 
Oh, I don't want a lot of breakfast. I'm rickety ! 
I'm all in! Just give me some coffee! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Getting coffee from gas-stove.~\ 
It's ready now. 

[Pouring it.~\ 
Where do you go to-night? 

LAWRENCE 

Mrs. Millette. 

HILDEGARDE 

Mrs. Who? 

LAWRENCE 

Millette, — what's the difference what her name is ? 
Mrs. Knollys says she wants to build a house. 

HILDEGARDE 

Good. 

LAWRENCE 

I'm invited to dine with her and go to the play 
to-night to talk things over. 

HILDEGARDE 

Any prospects? 



116 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[With a tone of justification, .] 
There's a social side to my job. You must see 
that. I've got to make that solid first. 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes. 

[Pause.] 

LAWRENCE 

Why ? You're not offended that you're not asked, 
are you? 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, dear no ; I'm thinking only of what they'll 
think of you. 

LAWRENCE 

In what way? 

HILDEGARDE 

I don't want you to be known as the kind of man 
these women can invite without his wife. 

LAWRENCE 

And I don't want to be known as the kind of man 
that always drags his wife about, either. 
[He opens the newspaper.] 

HILDEGARDE 

It's an affront to you, not to me. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 117 

[The bell rings over the hall door. Opening the 
door.'] 

Oh, thank you. 

[Takes letters from some one outside.] 
Wait, will you drop this in the mail for me? 
[She fetches her typewritten article and an orange. 
As she passes Lawrence she says:] 
These are for you. 
[She gives him some letters. Then she returns to 
the door and gives the letter and the orange to 
the little girl evidently standing outside.] 
Here, Annie. Thank you. 

[She closes the door.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Reading a letter which he has opened during the 
above business.] 
From my old firm. 

[Proudly.] 
They offer me a raise of ten a week if I'll come 
back. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Looking through her mail.] 
Bills, bills, bills. 

[She sits at her typewriting table.] 



118 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

They'll have to wait. I've got to. 
[Showing his letter.] 
How would you answer them ? 

HILDEGARDE 

That you must decide yourself. 

LAWRENCE 

[Pointing to the bills humorously.'] 
Say, ain't it the devil how the money goes ? 

HILDEGARDE 

[With a smile.] 
I can manage the necessities; if you'll keep down 
the luxuries. 

LAWRENCE 

[Looking at a bill.] 
Seven dollars and fifty cents for flowers. 
[Looks up at her.] 

HILDEGARDE 

To whom did you send them? 

LAWRENCE 

Mrs. Knollys, of course. She needs flowers. Al- 
ways has them. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 119 

[With attempted justification.'] 
I eat two meals a day on her ; I've got to keep my 
end up some way. 

HILDEGARDE 

Certainly, by all means. 

LAWRENCE 

[With another letter.] 
Tailor's bill. One hundred and twenty-five cold 
plunks. 

[Boyishly.] 
That's the swell dress suit, all right. 

[Looks at her.] 
Do you know, I'm sometimes tempted to drop in 
and see my old firm ; not that I'm aching to go back 
to them, but — 

HILDEGARDE 

You might call on them, and tell them what you're 
doing. 

LAWRENCE 

What do you think? 

HILDEGARDE 

I'd play the game out for all it's worth. It's no 
use weakening now. 



120 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Pointing to bills. ] 
What will we do with these? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Enc ouragingly. ] 
We'll meet them with your first instalment. 
[The bell over the dumb-waiter rings loudly.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Going to dumb-waiter. ~\ 
I'll open. 
[He opens door. The bell continues its ringing.] 

VOICE 

[Below, yelling up.] 
Sanbury ? 

LAWRENCE 

[Shouting down.] 
Yes. 

[Roaring.] 
Take your finger off that bell! 
[Bell stops.] 

VOICE 

[Cheerily.] 
Thought you might be a-hangin' out the wash ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 121 

LAWRENCE 

No, I'm not hangin' out the wash ! What do you 
want ? 

VOICE 

Look out ! It's coming up ! ! 
[Lawrence just ducks back as the dumb-waiter 
shoots up.] 

HILDEGARDE 

It's the grape-fruit and salad from the grocer's. 

[Lawrence takes it off.~\ 
Put them in there. 
[He puts them as she indicates inside the wash-tubs.] 

LAWRENCE 

What time is it now? 

HILDEGARDE 

After twelve. You'll have to hurry. 

LAWRENCE 

[Suddenly.] 
Say, can't we have the screens up? 

[Putting them hastily back before the stove.] 
And you know, there's nothing very handsome 
about this view. 

[Jerks down the blind over window rear.] 



122 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

Larrie, please don't fuss. 
[He has gone quickly for his coat hanging on a peg 
behind his door. He re-enters struggling into 
his coat.] 

LAWRENCE 

Say, my room looks like hell ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Agnes will clear it up while I'm setting the table. 

LAWRENCE 

[Nervously.] 
Where is she? You know she never comes when 
you want her ! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Clearing table quietly.] 
She'll be here. 

LAWRENCE 

[Attempting to ftcc a picture straight on the wall.] 
Have all your orders come? 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes. Please don't get nervous. 

LAWRENCE 

[Turning nervously.] 
Well, I'm only trying to help you out. I pass the 
grocer's. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 123 

HILDEGARDE 

[Pausing.] 
You silly boy. I guess you can't help fussing. 

LAWRENCE 

I like things to be right. 

[Suddenly.] 
Are you going to wear that dress? 

HILDEGARDE 

What's the matter with my dress ? 

LAWRENCE 

[Dubiously.] 
Oh, I suppose it's all right; only I thought your 
green — and honestly now, your feet aren't as big 
as that. It's those Consumer's League boots, just 
like your gloves ! You'd wear anything with a Trade 
Union label on it, wouldn't you? No matter what it 
looked like! 

HILDEGARDE 

They won't see my feet. 

LAWRENCE 

Won't they? 

[Exploding.] 
That skirt hikes ! ! 



124* THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

[With an obvious effort to be patient.] 
I'll be all right; if you'll only get out before you 
make me nervous. 

[A bell rmgs. He goes toward dumb-waiter again.] 
[Lifting the blind he has pulled down.] 
No. That's the door. I guess it's Agnes. 

LAWRENCE 

I hope so. 
[He opens the hall door and Murtha bounds into 
the room,] 
Oh, Lord! 

MURTHA 

[Effusively.] 
Th' top o' th' marnin' to you, Mishter S anbury ! 

[Seeing Hildegarde.] 
Ah, Sishter! Shure, yer hushband do be lookin' 
loike a capitalisht to-day. 

[Shakes both her hands.] 

LAWRENCE 

Where's Agnes? 

MURTHA 

[With feigned surprise.] 
Ah, Agnes, is it? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 125 

[Cunningly.] 
Shure, she's all roight. She do be havin' th' gran' 
good loock to-day ! 

LAWRENCE 

Where is she? 

MURTHA 

She's got a job to-day, yis, wid Mishter Curtis, 
her auld boss. 

HILDEGARDE 

Why didn't you tell me she couldn't come? 

MURTHA 

Oi wouldn't dishappoint ye. Oi know yer goin' to 
have a shindy; and is it any wonder that Oi'm here 
before th' wind. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Practically.] 
Then go right to Mr. S anbury's room and clear 
it up. 

MURTHA 

Shure Oi will ; whoy wouldn't Oi ? 

[She exits left with aged agility.] 

LAWRENCE 

Can't you get rid of her? 



126 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

I've got to have somebody. 

LAWRENCE 

Mrs. Knollys hates the sight of her. 

[To the ceiling. ] 
Oh, we're going to have a lovely party ! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Nervously.] 
Then call it off entirely. 

LAWRENCE 

I tried to. But she was determined to come here 
to-day. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Abruptly. ] 

Then stop complaining ! I wish you'd go ! 

[Seeing the futility of chiding him, she changes to a 

very reassuring manner, .] 

Now go, dear. You look very handsome. 

[She adjusts his necktie and goes with him toward 

hall door. He has his hands in his pockets.] 

LAWRENCE 

Do I look like ready money? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 127 

HILDEGARDE 

[Laughing. 1 
Yes. 

LAWRENCE 

[Shamefaced.'] 
Well, I haven't got any. Mine's in the gas meter. 

HILDEGARDE 

How much will you need? 

LAWRENCE 

I've got to get those dames here, haven't I? And 
I might be stuck for a taxicab. You know, such 
things have happened! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Going to cupboard.] 
Wait. 
[She brings out a china bank and shakes it.] 

LAWRENCE 

What's that? 

HILDEGARDE 

My linen bank. 

[Shaking it.] 
There must be several dollars in it. 
[She breaks it with a knife; and a mass of small 
coins is exposed.] 



128 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Sweeping up the coins.'] 
I feel like a man that's robbed a nursery. 
[As he puts them uncounted into his pocket, some of 
them roll on the floor.] 

HILDEGARDE 

The grocer will be glad to give you bills. 

LAWRENCE 

It 'ud take me an hour to count up this chicken 
feed. 

[Suddenly.] 

There's some on the floor. 

[As he starts to lean over, his soft hat falls from his 

head. He steps on it.] 

Gad!! Sure thing! This is my lucky day! 

[He punches his hat savagely.] 

HILDEGARDE 

I'll pick it up. 

[She does so.] 
Larrie dear, will you let me say something? And 
you won't get angry? 

LAWRENCE 

[Defensively.] 
Well . . .? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 129 

HILDEGARDE 

[Going to him.~\ 
Dearest, first try to be calm — for your own sake, 
don't be irritated. It's unbecoming. 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, I'm all right; but all these little things . . . 

HILDEGARDE 

I know, dear, it is hard; but for the sake of my 
pride in you, be careful about showing any impa- 
tience to me, particularly in front of Mrs. Knollys. 
I don't care how angry you get when we're alone. I 
understand. She doesn't. And judging from the 
last time she saw us together, she might think . . . 

LAWRENCE 

Please don't refer to that again. I thought you 
had forgotten it. 

[Contritely. ] 
I lost my head. 

HILDEGARDE 

If you remember it, I shall forget it. [She kisses 
him.~\ Now, good-by, dear. 

LAWRENCE 

Good-by. 
[He exits through the hall door, as Murtha re-enters 
from his room at the left.] 



130 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

MURTHA 

That's done. 

HILDEGARDE 

Then you can lay the table. 

MURTHA 

Shure Oi will, me dear. 

[She goes quickly to the cupboard for the necessary 
things.] 

[While Murtha is busied at the table, center, 
Hildegarde gets the salad and grape-fruit from 
wash-tubs. She cleans and prepares them dur- 
ing the following scene. ~\ 

HILDEGARDE 

You know, Mrs. Murtha, it isn't quite honest for 
you to say that Agnes will go to places, and then you 
go to them yourself. 

MURTHA 

[Busymg herself at table.'] 
No, ma'm. 
[She crosses herself with a mechanically devout ex- 
pression.] 

HILDEGARDE 

Then why do you do it? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 131 

MURTHA 

Whoy wouldn't Oi? There's Aggie, th' Lord love 
her, can hardly keep herself, and Tim's no good at 
all, and Mary in th' hoshpital, and Joey wid th' 
haughty lady that he's married and th' twins! 

HILDEGARDE 

But aren't you getting a little too old for . . .? 

MURTHA 

[Interrupting savagely. ] 
There yer sayin' it ! And d'ye see, if Oi wuz to tell 
thim: "It's me, ma'm, that's lookin' fer th' job," 
Oi'd nivir git it! And a little loi loike that doan't 
hurrt. 

[Wheedling.] 
Fer Oi'm as shtrong as ivir Oi wuz. 

HILDEGARDE 

[With a sigh of futility.] 
The knives on the right side. 

MURTHA 

[Very gently.] 
Yis, ma'm. 

[Pause.] 

HILDEGARDE 

Have you ever waited on a table? 



132 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

MURTHA 

Me ! Naw, ma'm. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Pausing. ] 
Then perhaps — 

MURTHA 

[Confidently, while Hildegarde works at straight- 
ening out the table.'] 
Ah, ye jusht tell me what to do, and Oi kin do it. 
Shure, Oi'm not wan av thim thick Micks. 

hildegarde 
Then first of all you must roll down your sleeves. 

MURTHA 

[Obeying like a child.] 
Yis, ma'm. Yer a laidy. Oi can't say naw liss 
than that. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Smiling.] 
What is a lady? 

MURTHA 

Ha ! A laidy is wan av thim that has all th' beer 
an' skittles, an' doan't have to do no worrk. 
[Laughing.] 

Shure, Oi alius says moy auld man's th' loocky 
laidy av our house. Me an' his chilthren does th' 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 133 

worrk fer him ; an' he schmokes in th' corner all day 
long. 

HIKDEGARDE 

Well, / don't smoke in the corner all day long. 

MURTHA 

Ah, doan't ye be lishtenin' to me gush ! 

HILDEGARDE 

You just bring the things from Mrs. Pannakin 
to me. 

MURTHA 

Yis, ma'm. 

HILDEGARDE 

And if there's anything you don't know how to 
do, you just ask me quietly, and I'll tell you. 

MURTHA 

Yis, ma'm. 

[She pricks up her ears.] 
What wuz that ! ! ! 
[She makes a dive for the window rear and looks 
out.] 

That's Mickey Doolan ! Shure it's Doolan ! ! 
[She -flings open the window. As she does so, a 
violent quarrel in Irish between a man and 
woman is heard. Murtha yells out:] 

Mickey! Mickey!! You lave her be! 



134 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Solemnly. ] 
Moy Gawd! He's hit her, th' poor woman, and 
she wid th' young un comin' ! 

[She jumps up on the sill.~\ 
Mickey! Mickey!! You lave her be!! Fer th' 
love o' God and th' shame o' man, you let her be!! 
You dhrunken pesht! 

[During the above speech, Hildegarde has tried 
vainly to hold Murtha back and stop her yell- 
ing; but Murtha has got speechless with rage. 
She tears loose from Hildegarde, goes through 
the window and is heard clattering down the 
fire-escape execrating Doolan.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[C ailing. \ 
Mrs. Murtha!! Wait — Mrs. Murtha!!! 
[Murtha has disappeared mto the melee. The row 
is heard suddenly to increase with Murtha's 
advent. A woman's shrill scream is heard, and 
then a man's growl. The row increases. 
Hildegarde, seemg the futility of trying to con- 
trol things at a distance, decides to follow. 
She also exits over the fire-escape, and descends. 
Murtha's high voice is heard above the noise, 
calling for " Tim," Then some other women's 
voices are heard in high excitement calling. A 
hushed subsidence due to Hildegarde's appear- 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 135 

ance follows. Finally an absolute pause of 
silence. Then a hey is heard turning in the 
lock of door from the hall. The door opens. 
Whistling is heard on the steps. The whistling 
evidently is paced to keep time with some one 
climbing slowly up stairs. Lawrence enters.] 

boys' voices 
[Outside, heard as the door opens.] 
Give us the ball ! You got it ! 

LAWRENCE 

Go on, boys, chase yourselves. 

[To Caroline.] 
Come in. 

[Caroline enters.] 

boys' voices. 
[Derisively.] 
Git a hair-cut! Git a hair-cut! G'wan, you 
dude! 

LAWRENCE 

[Closing the door.] 
This is the living room. Plain living and high 
thinking. 

CAROLINE 

[Laughing.] 
I should admit it's rather high. 



136 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Calling.'] 
Hildegarde ! We're here ! 

[To Caroline.] 
Sit down, please. 

CAROLINE 

[Not sitting.] 
Are you sure that she expected me ? 

LAWRENCE 

Certainly. She may be in my room. 

[Crosses left and opens his door.] 

CAROLINE 

[Crossing.] 
I want to see where you sleep. 

LAWRENCE 

Behold my couch of dreams. 

CAROLINE 

[Murmuring.] 
You poor boy ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Closing window rear.] 
I don't care where I sleep, as long as I've a place 
to work in. 

[He starts to pull down the blind.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 137 

CAROLINE 

What's there? 

LAWRENCE 

[Cheerfully.] 

Excellent view of a fire-escape and Mrs. Panna- 
kin's kitchen, where our nectar and ambrosia are 
prepared; which later you are to be privileged to 
taste. 

CAROLINE 

[After looking. ] 
Ah! 

LAWRENCE 

[He pulls down the blind. Then he goes toward 
Hildegarde's room at right, calling.] 
Hildegarde ! 

CAROLINE 

[Insinuatingly. ] 
Do you object to this little chat with me alone? 

LAWRENCE 

Of course not! But I wanted to leave you here 
with Hildegarde, while I looked for Miss Ambie. 
She may have trouble finding us. 

CAROLINE 

I hope so. 

[He looks at her.] 
I have trouble enough in losing her. 



138 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Laughing.'] 
Do you know, you sometimes perplex me terribly? 

CAROLINE 

[Sittmg.] 
Do I? 

'[Smiles.'] 
Sit down and let me look at you. 

[He sits and looks at her inquiringly.] 
I want to see if I can fit you into this environment. 
How do you manage it? 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, Caroline, you're so used to luxury, you can't 
understand how a little plain living rather helps a 
fellow to dream true. That's why I didn't want you 
to come down. I was afraid it would discourage 
you. 

CAROLINE 

[Slowly and with a caressing glance.] . 
It has made many things about you very clear to 
me. 

LAWRENCE 

There's nothing complex about me. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 139 

CAROLINE 

Yes, if you can do what you have done down here, 
what will you do, when — ? Oh, it's only because 
you are you that all this squalor hasn't killed your 
genius ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Humorously.] 
Oh, come now, Caroline, it's hard for me not to 
agree with you when you speak of me as a genius and 
all that. I tell you frankly I adore it ; but I'm really 
quite an ordinary sort of a chap. I've got enough 
ambition and enthusiasm to draw cheques on my 
future. I hope I've learned my job; so if the big 
things come along, I'll be able to measure up to my 
opportunities. And — when I'm with you, I feel 
my luck is with me. 

CAROLINE 

Then my faith in you does really help you, does it? 

LAWRENCE 

How can you ask that? 

CAROLINE 

Keep your confidence, Lawrence, but remember 
that patience is a virtue of the underlings. / don't 
possess that virtue; and you cannot afford to. 

LAWRENCE 

What's that to do with it? 



140 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Vehemently. ] 
Oh, I can't bear to see you in circumstances like 
these ! I can't lie to you ! It's useless to disguise 
it. I hate to see you pulling down the blinds ! I 
hate anything that ties you here ! The world is full 
of people that can plod and wait for opportunities. 
We've got to make them and before it is too late! 
I knew that you had wings the first time that I saw 
you. I hate the idea of a half a loaf, when by the 
right of the power in you, you are entitled to the 
whole! I hate even the patchwork you're doing on 
my house ! 

[She rises.] 

LAWRENCE 

Don't say that! The work you've given me has 
enabled me to leave my firm with a free conscience. 

CAROLINE 

[Smiling. ] 
What have you to do with conscience? People 
have conscience only when they fail. 

LAWRENCE 

[Rising. ] 
By Jove, you have a liberating way of saying 
things ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 141 

CAROLINE 

Have I helped to liberate you? 

LAWRENCE 

I've chucked a lot of litter since I've met you. 

CAROLINE 

That's right. I love to hear you say that. Oh, 
I want to see you free — free from all the petty 
scruples that would hinder you! That's my work 
now. For while you're building houses, / shall be 
building your career. 

[Lawrence takes her enthusiastically and im- 
pulsively into his arms, and kisses her full on 
the mouth. He looks at her as if hypnotized. 
She is full of the disguised triumph m her se- 
duction. They pause. Lawrence becomes 
thoughtful with a disturbing realization of what 
he has done.'] 

LAWRENCE 

I beg your pardon. 

CAROLINE 

For what? 

LAWRENCE 

Forgive me. I had no right to — 



142 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Interrupting.] 
You have a right to everything if you only want 
it enough! 

[Passionately.'] 
I want you — 

[Quickly correcting herself.] 
I want you to succeed; and we shall find a means. 

[Suddenly.] 
You must get that studio immediately. 

LAWRENCE 

[Dazed.] 
What—? 

CAROLINE 

[In a low voice.] 
You can't work any longer at my house. 

[He looks up.] 
Hubert arrives to-day. 

LAWRENCE 

[Absently.] 
Good! 

CAROLINE 

A little less enthusiasm, please. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 143 

LAWRENCE 

I mean, then I can get his O.K. on the plans. 

CAROLINE 

You'll get your first instalment to-morrow. 
You've got to draw up plans of an Italian country 
house for Edwalyn Millette. 

LAWRENCE 

She has decided? 

CAROLINE 

She will. She has money; and I can tell her ex- 
actly what she thinks she wants. 
[Humorously.] 
There I can help you too. You'll need your 
studio. 

[Dreamily.] 
I know exactly how we'll furnish it. I know just 
where I shall sit and pour your tea. 

[The bell rmgs over the door. They start.] 
And we won't have bells like that! 

LAWRENCE 

That's Hildegarde. 

[Turning.] 
I'll tell her of the studio. 



144 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Quickly.'] 
Not a word. Leave that to me. 
[He hesitates.] 
Oh, we drive to Edwalyn's Long Island place this 
afternoon. I want you to see the grounds before 
you dine with her to-night. 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, all right. 
[He opens the door to the hall, and discovers Susan 
Ambie.] 
Come in, Miss Ambie. 

SUSAN 

[Entering, her hat awry.] 
Oh, there you are! 

[Grieved.] 
Well, Carrie, I must say — 

CAROLINE 

We decided you weren't coming. 

SUSAN 

[Looking at her watch.] 
I thought I was on time. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 145 

CAROLINE 

Think again, my dear. 

LAWRENCE 

Did you have trouble finding us? 

SUSAN 

[Straightening her hat and speaking to Lawrence.] 
You oughtn't let those children play ball in the 
street. Their ball just missed me! 

CAROLINE 

Too bad! Too bad! 

SUSAN 

Carrie, I've something I must say to you . . . 
[Looks significantly at Lawrence.] 

LAWRENCE 

Excuse me. I'll hunt up Hildegarde. She may 

be in her office. 

[As soon as Lawrence exits Susan betrays a most 
uncontrolled and nervous anxiety. She is nerv- 
ous almost to the point of incoherency.] 

CAROLINE 

Well, what is it? 

SUSAN 

Carrie, I'm sorry . . . but I haven't slept! I 
can't take any more responsibility. That's all. 



146 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

Then don't. 

SUSAN 

[On the raw.~\ 
They ask me if I'm blind!! 

CAROLINE 

Well, if you're not, what do you care? 

SUSAN 

[Giishily.] 
People are talking about you and Lawrence. Of 
course, / understand — but . . . 

CAROLINE 

[Interruptmg. ] 
If you give your time thinking about what other 
people say, you'll never have time for anything else. 

SUSAN 

[Impatiently.'] 
But people know that Hubert's been away . . . 
and they see you and Lawrence together everywhere, 
and . . . 

CAROLINE 

There's comfort in that. Just think what they 
imagine when they don't see us. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 147 

SUSAN 

My dear, you can't stop wicked tongues from 
wagging. ... Of course, I tried to defend you all I 
could. . . . People are saying that you've lost your 
head over this young architect that you have living 
with you in your house. Everybody's talking — 

CAROLINE 

Everybody has nothing else to do. 

SUSAN 

Where is his wife? Perhaps she's heard things 
and means to be rude ! 

CAROLINE 

Rude to me? She couldn't be. 

SUSAN 

You know, Lawrence tried to discourage our com- 
ing. What can you and she have in common? 

CAROLINE 

[Meaningly.] 
Nothing! Lawrence sees that already. When 
she realizes that we can have nothing in common — 
not even her — well, the rest is easy. 

SUSAN 

[Alarmed.] 

Carrie ! You're up to something mad ! 



148 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Caroline laughs. ] 
I haven't seen you look or act like this, not since 
. . . Italy! 

[Suddenly with a cry.] 
Yes, they're right! It's true!! 



CAROLINE 

[Calmly.] 



What? 



SUSAN 

You've lost your head about him. 

CAROLINE 

[Recklessly.'] 
Oh, there's no law against a woman losing her 
head. 

SUSAN 

But his wife ! What do you mean to do ? 

CAROLINE 

I? Nothing. 

SUSAN 

Carrie, come back with me. We'll leave our 
cards ; and we'll have done our duty. 

CAROLINE 

Go if you like. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 149 

SUSAN 

[With a nervous whimper. ] 
I won't desert you, Carrie! 

CAROLINE 

[Rising. ~\ 
Oh, then shut up ! 

SUSAN 

Don't be rash, dear, she may know more than you 
think. 

CAROLINE 

In big things I do nothing underhand. 
[There is heard a fearful shaking of the window.] 

SUSAN 

What's that ! ! 

CAROLINE 

I'll see. 
[She goes toward window rear, pulls up the blind. 
The person outside on the -fire-escape flings up 
the window and scrambles into the room.] 

SUSAN 

[Tearfully.] 
[During Caroline's movement.] 
I don't know what we're doing here anyway ! 



150 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[Seeing Murtha.] 
The gorilla ! 

SUSAN 

[Frightened.] 

Carrie, this is the way out ! 
[Murtha has scrambled into the room talking inco- 
herently to herself. She looks rather damaged, 
and is carrying her apron and purse in her hand. 
Her hair is tousled and her eye is red.~\ 

MURTHA 

[Recognizing Caroline.] 
Ah, fer th' love o' God, Mrs. Knowllez, is it you! 
D'ye see me oye! 

[Pointing to it.~\ 
That's phwat ye git whin ye come interferin' be- 
tween a hushband and a woife! Shure, it wuz her 
that guv me that. 

[Laughmg.~\ 
Hah, there wuz wigs on th' green! I licked him 
wance before, and Mrs. Doolan she knows it, moind 
ye ; and whin I wuz trou' wid him, a dog wouldn't ha' 
lapped his blood! 

[Caroline and Susan have tried in vam to retreat 
before Murtha's stream of hysterical verbiage.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 151 

SUSAN 

[Completely appalled.] 
Yes, that's all very interesting . . . ! 
[Retreats around table.] 

MURTHA 

Now doan't ye moind me. Shure O'im only talkin' 
to mesilf, and Oi couldn't foind a bigger fool to talk 
to. 

[She opens a purse she still carries in her hand, sees 
her money.] 

Ah, that's all roight. 

[She puts purse down on the table. Caroline and 
Susan are chasseing toward the door, which is 
suddenly opened and Hildegarde is heard talk- 
ing to some one at the entrance.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[Calling in.] 
Mrs. Murtha, go bathe that eye in cold water. 

MURTHA 

[Subdued immediately.] 
Yis, ma'm. 

[She goes to the sink and does so.] 



152 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

[Continuing to some one outside.] 
No, Doolan; if you're sobered up at four o'clock, 
come to my office. The ejection officer will be there. 
[She closes the door sharply as she enters, then sud- 
denly sees Caroline and Susan. She continues 
with complete composure.] 
Oh! 

[Shakes hands with Caroline.] 
I'm sorry I wasn't here to receive you. 

[Shakes hands with Susan.] 
I hope you'll forgive me. There's been an un- 
fortunate difficulty with a couple of our tenants. 
Excuse me! 

CAROLINE 

Certainly. 

[Hildegarde exits into her room.] 
[Caroline and Susan look at each other while the 
noise of running water is heard at the smk, 
where Murtha is bathing her eye, Susan is 
frightened. Caroline is enjoying her usual 
parasitic amusement. ] 

SUSAN 

What do you think, Carrie? 

CAROLINE 

The worse it is, the better I like it. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 153 

[Hildegarde immediately re-enters with a small bot- 
tle and some Imt, which she puts down on the 
table.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Caroline and Susan.] 
Won't you lay off your wraps in Larrie's room? 
[Pomting left.] 
[Susan passes and enters the room at left.] 
[Continues.] 
I'm sure there's more excitement than real in- 
jury. 

[Caroline goes toward room. Hildegarde takes a 
bowl from plate rack and moves to Murtha.] 

CAROLINE 

[To Susan whose tram is still visible showing the 
smallness of the room.] 
Susan, go in. 

SUSAN 

[Excitedly.] 
I can't walk through the wall, my dear. 
[The train is however snatched in, and Caroline 
enters, closing the door behkid her.] 

MURTHA 

Oh, me oye — me oye ! 



154 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HIKDEGARDE 
[To MURTHA.] 

Now quick, let me look at that eye. 

MURTHA 

Shure Oi will, me dear ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Bathe it with this stuff. Here, use this too. 
[Going to table to get the lint pad, she sees 
Murtha's purse.] 
Oh. you've found your purse. Where was it? 

MURTHA 

[Guiltily .1 
I must ha' dhropped it runnin' down. 

HILDEGARDE 

You see you were wrong to accuse Mrs. Doolan. 
That only made more trouble. 

MURTHA 

[Cannily.~\ 
It wuz th' loocky thing thim Polacks didn't know 
'twas loyin' jusht outside their window. 

[Lawrence enters from the hall door.~] 

LAWRENCE 
[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

Where have you been? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 155 

MURTHA 

[Groaning.] 
Oh, Mother! Me oye ... me oye. . . . 
[She sits wretchedly at the left.] 

LAWRENCE 

What's the matter ! 

MURTHA 

[In a loud regretful tone.] 
If I had only hit him whin he thripped!! 

HILDEGARDE 

There's been trouble with the Doolans. 

LAWRENCE 

In here? 

HILDEGARDE 

No. And everything is all right now. 

LAWRENCE 

Yes, but where are the ladies? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Trying to quiet him by her tone.] 
In your room, laying off their wraps. 
[During the above, Murtha has been fighting over 
the battle in pantomime, while bathing her eye, 
and mumbling to herself.] 



156 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

Did you get anybody else to help you? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Barely holding her nerves.] 
I've been quelling a riot ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Pointing to Murtha.] 
What are you going to do with her? 

HILDEGARDE 

Go to Mrs. Pannakin's, and see if she won't serve 
the dinner herself. 

LAWRENCE 

I was just there looking for you! I asked her 
then. . . . 

HILDEGARDE 

Well . . .? 

LAWRENCE 

[Throwing up his hands and speaking to the ceiling.'] 
She can't come ! She isn't dressed ! And dinner's 
ready ! ! 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Murtha.] 
Go to Mrs. Pannakin's, smooth your hair, borrow 
an apron and bring in the dinner. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 157 

MURTHA 

[Rising. ,] 
Oh, yis, ma'm. 

[With a savage gesture.'] 
The durrty A.P.A. ! 

[She crosses to the hall door muttering.] 
Oh, Lord, I'm as blind as Doolan's goat ! I'll nivir 
see out o' that oye again. ... To hit me whin Oi 
wasn't lookin'. . . . 

[She exits.] 

LAWRENCE 

Good Lord! 
[He swmgs around the room in an ecstasy of ex- 
asperation.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[Going to him.] 
Larrie, no matter what happens, don't be betrayed 
into any rudeness to me before Mrs. Knollys. 
[The door left opens and Susan enters.] 

HILDEGARDE 

The excitement has subsided. Won't you sit here ? 
[She fixes a chair at her right.] 
[Susan sits with her bach to the door. Caroline 
enters.] 



158 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Continuing.] 

And, Mrs. Knollys, won't you sit there? 
[She motions Caroline to the chair at Lawrence's 
right. He helps her. She faces the door. 
Hildegarde faces the audience. Lawrence 
has his back to the audience. Note: the 
Ladies have just removed their wraps. Caro- 
line has not taken off her gloves.] 

Don't mind my jumping up. 

[She gets bread and butter from the wash-tubs. ,] 

How is Mr. Knollys? 

CAROLINE 

Well, thank you, the last I heard. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Puts the bread on table and helps them to but- 
ter.] 
[To Caroline.] 
Let me help you. We hear the Homestead Mills 
are going to begin work again. I'm glad. Su- 
gar? 

CAROLINE 

[Waving a " no."] 
And the percentage on investments lowered again. 
[They all, except Caroline, eat grape-fruit.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 159 

SUSAN 

[Changing the conversation.'] 
Mrs. Sanbury, have you any nerves left? 

HILDEGARDE 

This is by no means a typical day. 

CAROLINE 

No? 

HILDEGARDE 

Many of the workmen living here are idle. Un- 
fortunately, they drink. 

CAROLINE 

If that is how they spend their leisure, why agi- 
tate for shorter hours and bigger pay? 

SUSAN 

[Vigorously.] 
What good bread I 

HILDEGARDE 

Many laboring people drink because they have to 
work, and — 

CAROLINE 

[Interruptmg sarcastically.] 
Precisely, and they don't like it. I agree with 
you so far. 



160 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

Perhaps. But oftener they get the habit of drink 
because they haven't decent food. 

LAWRENCE 

[Rising. ~\ 

That being the case, ladies, I propose we fortify 
ourselves against the possible vagaries of our co- 
operative cook. 

[He goes to tubs and takes out bottles. ,] 

SUSAN 

[Looking.'] 
Your what? 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Susan.] 
Perhaps Larrie has told you, this is a co-operative 
dining-room. Several of the people living here chip 
in to pay the rent. 

LAWRENCE 

[To Caroline.] 
A little Scotch? 

[She refuses it. He helps Susan.] 

CAROLINE 
[TO HILDEGARDE.] 

A sort of socialistic mess. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 161 

SUSAN 

[Incredulously. ] 
But you're not Socialists, are you? 

[She drops her bread and knife.] 

HILDEGARDE 

Not all of us. 

SUSAN 

[Reassured and beginning to eat again.] 
Oh, that's better. 

HILDEGARDE 

But then we've got an Anarchist or two among us. 

SUSAN 

[Anxiously, pausing in a mouthful.] 
Oh! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Continuing.] 
All interested in improving conditions. 

SUSAN 

[Approving charitably.] 
Ah. 

[She resumes eating.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Rising. ] 
Psch! 



162 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Mysteriously.] 

It's coming! 

[Susan is apprehensive, as he goes to the hall door 
and opens it.] 

I've got a long distance nose ! The soup ! ! 

[He returns to his chair as Murtha enters carrying 
four soup-bowls on a very presentable tray. 
She never takes her eyes from Hildegarde, 
Murtha is very neat and important. Hilde- 
garde motions her to serve her first. Murtha 
does so.] 

SUSAN 

[Seeing Murtha.] 
Oh, she's all right again. I'm glad. 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Murtha.] 
Then serve Mrs. Knollys. 

CAROLINE 

[Waving a gloved hand.] 

I never eat soup. 

[Murtha goes to Susan and helps her, then Law- 
rence. She stands awkwardly for a moment, 
but very quietly.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 163 

HILDEGARDE 
[To MlJRTHA.] 

You can come back in a moment and clear off the 
bowls. 

MURTHA 

Yis, ma'm. 

HILDEGARDE 

Leave the door ajar. 
[Murtha is about to exit, carrying the tray with 
Caroline's bowl of soup on it, when she is 
passed m the door by Michael Krellin. 
Krellin is a Russian by birth, but speaks Eng- 
lish with a scrupulous, scholarly exactness, 
though with a slightly foreign accent. Physi- 
cally, he is of medium height, lithe and slender 
in figure, rapid and exact in his movements. 
His dress is clean but careless. Everything 
about him betokens a fearless definiteness of 
mmd. He has a shock of curly hair. His face 
is pale, his eyes are very keen; and when he 
looks at a person, he is likely to peer a little 
closer into their faces than the usual man. His 
speech is fluent and mcisive. He is mentally a 
combination of the political dreamer and the 
practical meliorist, who has saved his optimism 
by fighting for the next reform at his hand. 
His manner is above all things humorous and 



164* THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

easy, with a sort of detached impersonal im- 
pertinence. He has the assurance of the plat- 
form orator.] 

MURTHA 

[Meeting him at the door.~\ 
Good marnin', Mishter Krellin. 

KRELLIN 

Good morning. Eh? Wait! 

[Stops Muktha and peers into the tray.] 

LAWRENCE 

[To Caroline.] 
There's our Anarchist. 

[HlLDEGARDE HseS.] 
KRELLIN 

[Continuing to Murtha.] 
Here . . . Hello — - Hello ! I'll take that soup. 
[He has already deftly lifted it from the tray.] 

MURTHA 

Doan't let yer modesty wrong you. 
[She exits.] 

KRELLIN 

[Joyously.] 
Hildegarde, Hildegarde! I've news for you! 
Good news ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 165 

[He goes immediately to the cupboard, puts down 
his soup-bowl deftly, pulls out a drawer, finds 
his napkin with a cheap ring on it, picks out 
a knife, fork and spoon, puts the napkin in his 
mouth, takes the bowl, with knife, fork and 
spoon in one hand, then picks up a chair with 
his remaining hand and advances toward the 
table.~\ 

HILDEGARDE 

[Hesitatingly.] 

Yes, Michael . . . 

KRELLIN 

[During the above business.] 
Just wait. I'm as hungry as a wolf. All night 
at the office. 

HILDEGARDE 

You must be tired, Michael. 

KRELLIN 

[His voice is merry, but his body is relaxed.] 
Not very. 
[He puts down his chair between Susan's and Hil- 
degarde's, and places his eatmg paraphernalia 
on the table. Susan draws away, as he sits 
down. Caroline is imperturbed. Lawrence 
is annoyed.] 



166 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

KRELLIN 

[Peering nearsightedly at Susan.] 
Oh, you're having a party. I didn't see. 

[Rising.'] 
Pardon, I am very near-sighted; and I have 
broken my glasses. 

[About to withdraw.] 
I'll step in later. 

HILDEGARDE 

Wait, Michael. 

[To Caroline and Susan.] 
Mr. Krellin is one of our friends. 

KRELLIN 

Yes, yes. I only wanted to ask; did you finish 
your article? 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes. It's gone. What's the news? 

KRELLIN 

You'll have to write a special. Despatches from 
the South tell of the final settlement by arbitration 
with the Homestead Mills. Another victory ! 
[He shakes Hildegarde's hands enthusiastically.] 



THE TJNCHASTENED WOMAN 167 

HILDEGARDE 

Splendid, but — 

[Turns toward Caroline.] 

KRELLIN 

[Continuing.] 
A ten hour day, and a dollar ninety cents ! 

LAWRENCE 

The Homestead Mills ! those are . . . 
[Turns to Caroline.] 

CAROLINE 

Yes, I'm interested. 

HILDEGARDE 

My friend is one of the reporters on the "Echo." 
He's just had news. May I present him? 

CAROLINE 

And which way has the strike been settled? 

KRELLIN 

[Coming toward her.] 
You will be glad to hear in favor of the shorter 
hour and the living wage. Another milestone passed ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Mrs. Knollys, this is Mr. Krellin. A member of 
our co-operative club. We don't usually have the 
pleasure of seeing him till dinner time. 



168 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

KRELLIN 

[Has leaned toward Caroline.] 
Mrs. Knollys . . . Knollys? 
[Peers at her, then at Hildegarde, then again at 
Caroline.] 
I am delighted to find you here. 
[Laughs softly.] 
God is a great dramatist! 

CAROLINE 

Why? 

KRELLIN 

I've seen you before, Madame; and I've heard of 
your husband. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Quickly.] 
And this is Miss Ambie. 

KRELLIN 

[Bowing.] 
Ah, yes . . . Miss Ah . . . 

[He goes toward her,] 

SUSAN 

[Frightened.] 
How do you do! . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 169 

[Krellin sits between Htldegarde and Susan. 
Pause.] 

KREEEIN 

[Partially rising with his knife in hand and peering. ] 

Is that the butter? 
[He takes some and puts it on bread. To Caro- 
line, as he settles back m his chair.] 

Mrs. Knollys, I put you on your guard. Before 
you know it, Hildegarde will persuade you to invest 
in tenements and make you a five per cent, philan- 
thropist. 

LAWRENCE 

[Decidedly.] 
No, she won't ! She — 

KREEEIN 

[Interrupting.] 
Wait ! She will induce you to put up better 
dwellings for the poor ; so they can live a little more 
decently on their miserable wages. You will feel 
charitable toward them, because they will give you 
a steady five per cent. ; and the workingmen will be 
made more contented with conditions, that otherwise 
they might be encouraged to radically change. 

SUSAN 

[Horrified.] 
But don't you believe in charity? 



170 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

KRELLIN 

[Throwing up his hands. ] 
Ah, I see! Another sentimentalist. I surrender! 

SUSAN 

I'm no such thing! 

KRELLIN 

[Gracefully looking at Susan and Caroline.] 
But neither of you is old enough to be the real 
conservative. 

CAROLINE 

[Smiling.] 
You're a radical? 

KRELLIN 

I am a social physician, whose prescriptions no- 
body respects, because I do not believe in wasting 
time disguising or trying to cure symptoms. Pov- 
erty is the real disease. 

CAROLINE 

Other people have a name for your kind of man. 

KRELLIN 

They call us lots of names. Which one? 

CAROLINE 

They call you " muck-rakers." 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 171 

KRELLIN 

[Good humoredly .] 
Oh, that never offends me. To make all beautiful 
things grow, there must be some one to stir up . . . 
ah . . . unappetizing things about the roots. We 
do that. 

[Pointing to Caroline.] 
Unfortunately, however, it is the " other " people s 
that wear the flowers. So 1 

[He eats his sowp.~\ 

LAWRENCE 

You mustn't take him seriously, Mrs. Knollys. 

KRELLIN 

Never listen to the artists. They must take noth- 
ing seriously; else they could find very little beauty 
in anything. They are spiritual toy-makers and 
seducers. They gather the flowers and forget the 
roots. At least don't take them seriously when they 
speak. Admire them when they do; because they 
are permitted to do, and don't know how to speak. 
Listen to us when we speak; because the government 
will allow us no other liberty. 
[Eats.'] 

LAWRENCE 

Nonsense, Michael. 



172 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

K REE LIN 

[Appealing to Caroline.] 
You see, that is my great misfortune. My friends 
never know when I am in earnest. What else is 
there to eat? 

[At this moment Murtha appears with a tray on 
which are chops and vegetables.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Murtha.] 
Take these things off before you serve the chops. 
[Murtha, without a word, puts the tray on the cup- 
board, and deftly removes the empty soup- 
bowls.] 

KRELLIN 
[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

Em»my will be late. 
[Murtha during the next speeches serves chops.] 

CAROLINE 

[Resuming.] 
Do you take yourself seriously, Mr. Krellin? 

KRELLIN 

[With a quick glance.] 
That means you don't. But I did once. That's 
why I left Russia. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 173 

HILDEGARDE 

Mr. Krellin wrote a book for the Radical move- 
ment, and the government didn't like it. 

CAROLINE 

Wise government. 
[Henceforward Lawrence and Caroline form a 
party agamst Hildegarde and Krellin.] 

KRELLIN 

Yes, my friends, the enemy, were making Russia 
too hot for me; and Siberia has always been too 
cold ; and — 

CAROLINE 

[In,terrwptmg.~\ 
So you decided to make trouble over here. 
[Susan has got an eating devil and is despatching 
food.~\ 

KRELLIN 

Precisely. 

CAROLINE 

And in that work, do you take other people seri- 
ously ? 

KRELLIN 

Sometimes. You see, I am neither an artist 
[Bowing to Lawrence] nor a sentimentalist [Bow- 
ing to Susan]. 



174 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

SUSAN 

[Putting down her knife and fork.] 
Now he means me again, Carrie! 

CAROLINE 

[To Krellin.] 
Then you and I might understand each other. 

KRELLIN 

Ah, — you mustn't ask me to take you seriously, 
Mrs. Knollys; that would be too much to ask. 

CAROLINE 

Why? 

KRELLIN 

You see, I know you. You're a spoiled American 
woman ; which means you take neither our govern- 
ment nor yourself seriously. I don't blame you; 
neither do I. In other words, we have a sense of 
humor. And then you are a Saxon woman; which 
means to a Russian, that you have elevated hypoc- 
risy until it takes rank with a virtue. Otherwise 
you could never do as you do. 
[He eats.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Growing nervous.] 
For heaven's sake, stop him! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 175 

HILDEGARDE 

Please, Michael, eat. 

LAWRENCE 

[To Caroline.] 
He's our interminable talker. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Laughing a little nervously and speakmg to Caro- 
line.] 
People say anything they think here. 

KRELLIN 

[In the midst of a mouthful.] 
Yes, when they think ! 

[Then to Susan.] 
When they think!' 

HILDEGARDE 

But we try to argue about principles, not persons. 

CAROLINE 

But I'm not interested in principles. 

KRELLIN 

[To Caroline.] 
Right you are! Only involve people in princi- 
ples, and you keep them harmless. 



176 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

[To Krellin.] 
But do go on. You said you saw me once before. 

KRELLIN 

Yes. I was detailed at the dock when you arrived. 

CAROLINE 

[Not so pleasantly. ,] 
Oh. 
[Susan puts down her knife and fork again.] 

KRELLIN 

[Continuing. ~\ 
And a dear, a very dear friend persuaded me to 
lose fifteen dollars on your account. 

CAROLINE 

That was a very dear friend, indeed. 

KRELLIN 

Ah, yes, I had a beautiful article written, which 
for her sake, I was weak enough to drop ... an 
article about the humor and hypocrisy of the Ameri- 
can woman, — with special reference to yourself, 
Mrs. Knollys . . . 

[Lawrence is fearful, pushes back his chair. Caro- 
line has waved aside the chop and peas that 
Murtha has offered her.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 177 

[TO MlTRTHA.] 

Bring that to me. I've had no breakfast. 
[During the next speeches he has the business of 
taking Caroline's chop, etc.] 
Shall I continue? 

LAWRENCE 

[Decidedly.] 
No! 

CAROLINE 

By all means. 

KRELLIN 

[To the others.] 
You see, she already treats me as an artist. I 
amuse her. 

CAROLINE 

Immensely. 

KRELLIN 

That's why I permit myself to speak. Well, to 
resume: strange to say, I wrote that the people 
whose fortunes have been made in industries pro- 
tected by the government are always the very ones 
most eager to evade the customs imposed by that 
government to protect their industries. 

SUSAN 

[Fearfully.] 
Carrie! 



178 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

KRELLIN 

[Impatiently.] 
Miss Nambie — Miss Pambie — Miss . . . 

SUSAN 

Ambie is my name. 

KRELLIN 

Pardon, quite so. I do not include you; because 
on that day you personally lost your sense of humor. 
[To Caroline.] 
Your money is made in protected tin plate. Your 
husband's in protected woollen mills. 
[Laughs.] 
You see, you have a sense of humor and a genius 
for hypocrisy. 

[Seriously.'] 

You don't respect a government that will let your 
factories work the poor the way they do. Neither 
do I. And so you refuse to pay the customs to sup- 
port that government. No more do I! 

LAWRENCE 

Michael ! 

KRELLIN 

[Contmuimg unperturbed.] 
I admire you! Your personal discernment and 
your sense of humor were almost worth six thousand 
dollars to you. I admire you personally — fifteen 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 179 

dollars' worth ; and that's a great deal for a man who 
is saving up in order to get married. 

CAROLINE 

[Quietly leading him on.~\ 
Oh, you still believe in marriage. That's inter- 
esting. 

KRELLIN 

You mean, as soon as we are inconsistent we are 
interesting. 

[ Wisely. ] 

You believe in conventions that you do not ob- 
serve ; J for a time observe conventions in which I do 
not believe. 

SUSAN 

[Horrified.] 

Don't you believe in marriage? 

KRELLIN 

[Bowing to her.] 
Oh, yes, as all the zmmarried people do. 

SUSAN 

I'm sure I don't know what you mean, but it 
makes me very uncomfortable. 

LAWRENCE 

[Laughing.'] 
Gag him! 



180 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

I'll mix the salad. 

[She gets the salad bowl. Murtha helps her.~\ 

CAROLINE 

Then you believe in women too? 

KRELLIN 

Boundlessly. And in every capacity of citizen- 
ship. 

[Susan pushes bach her chair with an exclamation 
of disgust. Krellin continues to Caroline.] 

I believe especially in one, the one I'm going to 
marry. I believe in eugenics and endowed maternity 

— in everything that makes for a superior human- 
ity. 

[To Susan.] 

I believe that by our foolish laws we can some- 
times save people from doing what they'd like to do. 

[To Caroline.] 

I should like to save people from being what they 

are. I believe Oh — I believe that I'm a stupid 

fool for telling you sincerely all that I do believe in 

— and — 

[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

Don't put too much vinegar in the dressing. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 181 

SUSAN 

[Outraged.] 
I've listened long enough! 

CAROLINE 

Why, Susan! What's broke loose in you? 

SUSAN 

I'm bound to protest ! 

KRELEIN 

Ah, then there's hope for you. 

SUSAN 

[Scathmgly.] 
Oh, I'm not clever! but I think your ideas are 
perfectly ridiculous and detestable — all of them ! 

KRELLIN 

Thank you. I would have doubt of them if you 
thought otherwise. 

SUSAN 

[Continuing.'] 
And as for women as citizens — women voting and 
doing the work of men . . . Well, it's bad enough 
now as it is, when they happen to hold office under 
the government . . . 

KREEEIN 

[Amused.] 
I remember. You had difficulty. 



182 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

SUSAN 

[Unheeding his interruption,"] 
Yes, we had an experience at the customs ! 

CAROLINE 

[Warningly.] 
Susan ! 

SUSAN 

[Impetuously.] 
There was a hussy there when we arrived . . . 
Of all the insolence in office . . . Hah! If I had 
my way . . . 

[Stops breathlessly.] 

KRELLIN 

You didn't have your way. That was the trou- 
ble, wasn't it? 

SUSAN 

Well, I'd like to meet her some time face to face — 
That's all; when she didn't have her little badge 
upon her; and without the authority of the govern- 
ment behind her — I'd . . . 

KRELUN 

Yes — yes. Excuse me. 
[The door to the hall has opened and Emily Mad- 
den appears. Krellin has risen alertly.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 183 

SUSAN 

[Bewildered. ~\ 
What's the matter? 

[She continues to talk to Caroline.] 

KRELLIN 

[At the door with Emily.] 
Ah, Emmy, you're late. 
[He starts to bring her down. She resists a little, 
seemg strangers present.] 

CAROLINE 

[Seeing Emily.] 
Susan, you're a fool! 

SUSAN 

[Seated with her bach to the door, doesn't see Emily. 
She continues to Caroline, mournfully:'] 

I had no right to drink that whisky. It always 
makes me silly. 

[She suddenly turns, following Caroline's glance, 
and exclaims, terrified:] 

There she is ! ! Don't you see her? 

[Crumpled.] 
Oh, Carrie, it's gone to my head ! ! 

[She makes a mad clutch at her head.] 



184 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

Keep quiet! 

LAWRENCE 

[To Caroline.] 
I'm so sorry. 

[Then savagely to Hildegarde.] 
Now, you see! . . . 
[He becomes incoherent and swings up rear, sees 
Murtha, stops short and goes to window.'] 

KRELLIN 

[Bringing Emily down.] 
Emily, there is a lady here, who has just ex- 
pressed a great desire to meet you. 

EMILY 

[Advancing a step.] 
Oh, then, I'd be deligh— 
[She stops and recoils as she recognizes Caroline.] 

SUSAN 

[Waving her hands.] 
I've had quite enough! I've had quite enough!! 
[She rises as if to go.] 

KRELLIN 

[Gallantly.] 
Mrs. Knollys, Miss Madden is the reason for my 
belief in marriage. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 185 

CAROLINE 

[Amused and pausing. ,] 
Oh! That is remarkable. 
[She suddenly realizes that a weapon has been placed 
m her hands; she immediately becomes calm. 
Emily is in silent desperation.'] 

KRELLIN 

[Proudly.] 
It was due to her persuasion that the article I 
wrote about you was never published in the papers. 

CAROLINE 

[To Emily.] 
I am glad of this opportunity to thank Miss Mad- 
den for that, and [Significantly] for many other 
favors. 

EMILY 

[Uncertainly.] 
Oh, I am sure . . . I . . . 

KRELLIN 

[To Emily.] 
I needed you, my dear, to save me from Miss 
Ambie and defend the government. Miss Ambie 
agrees with you about the government. [To 
Susan.] No? 



186 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 



SUSAN 

[Vehemently.] 



I don't ! 



KRELLIN 

[To Emily.] 
She does not! Another convert! 

[Gesture of amusement.] 
While Mrs. Knollys and I maintain the govern- 
ment is ridiculous. [To Caroline.] No? 
[Suddenly remembering.] 
I'll get a chair. 

[He looks for one, but there are no more.] 

CAROLINE 

[To Krellin.] 
Don't bother, please. Miss Madden can occupy 
my place. 

EMILY 

Oh, no! 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Caroline.] 
Please don't disturb yourself. 

[To Lawrence.] 
Larrie, get a chair from your room. 

[Lawrence immediately exits left.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 187 

CAROLINE 

It won't be a new experience for Miss Madden. 
She has already occupied my place before this, many 
times; and for a long time, I have been accustomed 
to yield to her. 

KRELLIN 

[Perplexed.] 
Is that so! How? 

EMILY 

[In terror.] 
Oh, Michael, why did I come here ! ! 

KRELLIN 

What's the matter, Emmy? 

CAROLINE 

[To Emily.] 
Have no fear, Miss Madden. Your intended hus- 
band believes in women " boundlessly," and " in 
every capacity." He has a sense of humor and ad- 
mires hypocrites. He will be consistent to his views ; 
but I am sure he will allow me to be equally con- 
sistent with mine. 

KRELLIN 

Carte blanche! 

[Seeing Lawrence re-enter with the chair.] 
Here we are. Now we can listen. 



188 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

I have no principles, but I have some prejudices. 
And either Miss Madden or I must leave the room. 

SUSAN 

Oh, Carrie! 

KRELLIN 

What do you mean! That isn't argument. 
That is evasion! 

LAWRENCE 

[Quickly.] 

Emily and Michael, you've said about enough! 
Now please go ! 

[He bangs down the chair. ] 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Lawrence.] 
By no means. Mrs. Knollys will be good enough 
to explain herself. 

KRELLIN 

What is your reason, Mrs. Knollys? 

CAROLINE 

[Charmingly.] 
Since you insist, it is simply because I refuse to 
sit at the same table with my husband's mistress. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 189 



Ha!! 



Oh! 



KRELLIN 

[Dawning.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[Simultaneously. ] 



KRELLIN 

[Fiercely. ~\ 

That's a lie ! A black, malicious lie ! I 

CAROLINE 

Oh, no ! 

KRELLIN 

[Continuing. ] 
She doesn't even know your husband ! 

CAROLINE 

[Confidently tauntmg.~\ 
Ask her! 

KRELLIN 

Madame, I am not here to insult her myself; but 
to defend her against your attempt to do so. 

CAROLINE 

Ask her, and you will learn it was for my hus- 
band's sake that your article was suppressed. But 
he, no doubt, has paid Miss Madden for any loss you 
may have suffered. Come, Susan. 



190 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

I've had a most delightful luncheon. My wrap, 
Lawrence. 

[He exits left.~\ 

KRELLIN 

[Quietly aggressive.] 
Mrs. Knollys, of course you cannot go until I 
have relieved your mind from any misapprehensions 
you may have concerning your husband. 

CAROLINE 

But unfortunately I seem to affect Miss Madden 
disagreeably. 

[Lawrence re-enters with wraps. ] 

MURTHA 

[Suddenly coming up from rear.~\ 
Fer th' love o' Gawd, th' poor gurrl's goin' t' 
faint ! ! 

[She takes Emily in her arms.] 

EMILY 

[Weakly.] 
Take me home, Michael. ... Oh ... 1 

MURTHA 

Now there, there, there, dearie, doan't ye 
moind. . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 191 

KRELLIN 
[To MlJRTHA.] 

Yes, take Miss Madden home ! ! 

EMILY 

No! Not without you, Michael!! 

SUSAN 

[Terrified.] 
Carrie, Carrie! Come with me! Come home!! 
I'm sorry we ever came! These awful people!! 
[Gets mto her wrap.] 

LAWRENCE 

Come, Mrs. Knollys. 

[Then to Krellin and Emily.] 
If they haven't sense enough to go! 

KRELLIN 

[Fiercely to Caroline.] 
You cannot go ! 

LAWRENCE 

[To Krellin.] 
What do you mean? 

krellin 
I have something to say to Mrs. Knollys ! 



192 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

SUSAN 

[As he comes forward.'] 
Carrie, if you don't come, I . . . 
{Weeps in fright.] 
God knows what they will do ! 

HILDEGARDE 

[Beseechingly.] 
Michael, go with Emily ! 

KRELLIN 

[Shaking his mane.] 
Mrs. Knollys has permitted herself to utter a 
filthy, vicious lie ! And I — 

HILDEGARDE 

[Going to him.] 
But this is not the time to — 

KRELLIN 

[In fury.] 
A filthy lie!! 

LAWRENCE 

[To Krellin.] 
See here, you can't use that kind of language to 
my friend! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 193 

KRELLIN 

[Savagely to Lawrence.] 
Your friend! You little lap-dog! I want noth- 
ing from you! Just look to yourself!! 
[He flings Lawrence aside.] 

HILDEGARDE 

[Imploringly.] 
Michael, go with Emily. She needs you. 
[She turns him around, and he sees Emily being 
helped to the door by Murtha.] 

EMILY 

[As she leaves with Murtha.] 
Michael. . . . Michael. . . . 

KRELLIN 

[With suppressed vehemence.'] 
Mrs. Knollys, I shall give myself the pleasure of 

continuing this conversation in the presence of your 

husband. 

[He bows and exits, after Murtha and Emily.] 

SUSAN 

[Incoherently.] 
Carrie, here are your things ! Here ! Of all the 
frightful experiences ! 



194 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Spinning around.'] 
Where's my glove ? You must get out of this ! ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Mrs. Knollys, / must have a word with you. 

SUSAN 

[Dizzily. ] 

Now she's going to begin ! Why did we ever . . . ? 

LAWRENCE 

[Angrily.] 
Hildegarde, don't you think you'd better drop it? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Meaningly.] 
It isn't only in reference to Miss Madden that I 
wish to speak. 

SUSAN 

[Hysterically.] 
I knew it, Carrie ! 

[To Hildegarde.] 
But you're wrong! No matter what you think. 
. . . People have such vile minds ! 
[Specifically.] 
I was with Mrs. Knollys all the time, except once 
when I took sick. . . . Your husband knows it — 
and so does Mr. Knollys. . . . 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 195 

LAWRENCE 

What are you talking about? 

SUSAN 

[Continuing.] 
And if her kindness is to be misinterpreted — 
then — 

LAWRENCE 

[Angrily.] 
Say, Miss Ambie, what's on your mind? 

CAROLINE 

[To Lawrence.] 
Psch t 

SUSAN 

[Collapsing.] 
Oh, everybody's crazy! 

LAWRENCE 

[Disgusted.] 

You're right there. 

[He turns helplessly.] 
Hildegarde, I hope that. . . . Oh, what's the use ! 

CAROLINE 

[Abruptly.] 
Quite so, Lawrence ; get Susan home. 

[Susan has got rapidly to the hall door.] 



196 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

But, Hildegarde, I — 

CAROLINE 

Please go. I wish to talk with your wife. 

[Lawrence takes his hat.~\ 
Send the motor back for me immediately. 
[He crosses to the door. There is a look full of 
crowded meaning between Hildegarde and 
Caroline; then Caroline continues to Law- 
rence.] 
Oh, and remember, you have engagements for this 
afternoon. 

[Lawrence exits with Susan. Hildegarde closes 
the door after him. There is a pause of sizing 
up between the two women.~\ 

[Amused.] 
You're not going to lock me in ; I hope. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Gravely. ~\ 
No. But after you leave this room, I want you 
to pass out of our lives forever. 

CAROLINE 

Your life? That's very simple. You have some- 
thing else to say to me ? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 197 

HILDEGARDE 

So many things, — I hardly know where to begin. 

CAROLINE 

Let me help you. We'll eliminate Miss Madden. 

HILDEGARDE 

We will not eliminate Miss Madden. We have 
a different sense of values, you and I ; but we both 
are married women. Emily is different. She has 
nothing but her friends, Michael and me. And we 
together will force you to retract. 

CAROLINE 

Retract the truth! What else? 

HILDEGARDE 

And make a full apology to her. 

CAROLINE 

I have never apologized in my life. 

HILDEGARDE 

Then you have a new experience in store for you. 

[Pause. ] 
What was your purpose in coming here to-day? 

CAROLINE 

[With charming frankness.'] 
You know. My interest in your husband. 



198 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

And now, you think you can eliminate me. 

CAROLINE 

Why ? Your husband has his own career ; and you 
are sensible. 

HILDEGARDE 

It's a dangerous thing to interfere with other 
people's lives. 

CAROLINE 

Yes. We discussed that some time ago. 

HILDEGARDE 

You told me then that I might hinder him, — that 
my very work in the world might be an obstacle. 
Since then I've left him free. I haven't influenced 
him — 

CAROLINE 

Oh, don't make virtues of your inabilities. 

HILDEGARDE 

You mean? 

CAROLINE 

Don't boast of what you couldn't do. You know 
you couldn't keep him here. Don't say you didn't 
want to. That would be weak. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 199 

HILDEGARDE 

I don't wish to speak of Lawrence. I wish to 
speak of you. I am told the world of art needs 
women of your kind. You have everything — 
wealth, influence, position. You hold patronage and 
opportunity in your hands. 

CAROLINE 

[Interrupting.] 
Why don't you add : " You hold my husband 
too "? In other words, that you regret your bar- 
gain ; and you want me to send him back to you. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Scornfully.] 
Oh, no! But don't make the price for your 
patronage so high, that a man must sacrifice his self- 
respect to gain the prize you offer. 

CAROLINE 

[Quietly, after a look.] 
I never dreamed that you'd be jealous; are you? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Fervently.] 

Yes, I am jealous — jealous for him, but not of 
him! 

CAROLINE 

I've given him the opportunity. He has chosen. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

He hasn't! 

CAROLINE 

Then why are you so anxious? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Continumg.] 
To choose, one must be independent. He isn't. 
He thinks he dare not choose against you. He fears 
to jeopardize commissions. There's where you make 
unscrupulous use of your advantages ! 

CAROLINE 

[With a smile.] 
My dear Mrs. Sanbury, I may be mistaken; but 
you seem bent on telling me your husband doesn't 
care for me. Is that what you mean? 

HILDEGARDE 

No. 

[Suddenly.] 
What are you trying to make me think? 

CAROLINE 

Think what you like. I make no disguises. But 
I marvel at you. 

HILDEGARDE 

At me! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 201 

CAROLINE 

I thought you weren't a feminine woman. You're 
interested in so many things beside your husband. 
I've interested myself in him. If, in that interest, 
you think that he has gone beyond what you ex- 
pected ; why not speak to him? 

HILDEGARDE 

He's lost his senses ! You've* blinded him ! 

CAROLINE 

I thought I had opened his eyes. You see, Love 
isn't blind. The trouble is, it sees too much ! 
[Obliterating her with a glance. ,] 
It sometimes sees things that aren't there at all. 
It isn't my fault if now he sees things as they are. 
I open everybody's eyes. That's my profession. 
[Significantly. ] 

I've opened yours, I hope. I've opened Mr. 
Krellin's. 

[She laughs. ~\ 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes, and tried wantonly to destroy his faith in 
Emily, as now you're trying to destroy my faith in 
Lawrence. 

CAROLINE 

Ah, then you are afraid! 



202 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

[Uncertainly.] 
Afraid of what ! 

CAROLINE 

You fear to lose your husband's love. Of course, 
you'll struggle. 

HILDEGARDE 

I never struggle for what is mine. 

CAROLINE 

Hum. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Nervously.] 
I'm not afraid of Lawrence. Your insinuations 
don't affect me — you . . . 

CAROLINE 

Indeed. Then why this argument? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Amazed.] 
You'd like to make me think my husband is your 
lover ! 

[She draws a sharp breath.] 

CAROLINE 

And if that were the case — What then ? 
[Pause.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 203 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, no! You wouldn't boast of it! 

CAROLINE 

[Quietly. ,] 
I never boast. Only the insecure do that. 

HILDEGARDE 

It's a lie! It's a lie!! It's a lie!!! 

CAROLINE 

Ask him. 

HILDEGARDE 

You mean you would have me ask my husband 
such a question? 

CAROLINE 

Why not? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Suddenly calm, and seeing through Caroline.] 
Because it isn't important enough, Mrs. Knollys. 

CAROLINE 

You mean, your husband's fidelity isn't important 
to you? 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, yes, but there's far more at stake. For his 
sake, I've stepped aside. I've given you every 
chance with him ; because you may have helped him. 



204 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

... I don't know. You've taken his time, his mind, 
his work, his energy. He has amused you, fed your 
vanity and gratified your sense of power over people. 
I've been patient. I've left him free to choose. For 
if a woman like you can take the rest of him from me ; 
he isn't worth my energy to keep. I don't want 
even a part of him ; if anything is withheld — 

CAROLINE 

[With an amused sneer. ,] 
And what have / to do with your ideal of mar- 
riage ? 

HILDEGARDE 

I don't approve of the way that you make use of 
the protection of your husband's name! 

CAROLINE 

Then you'd better see my husband. 

[She goes toward the hall door.] 

HILDEGARDE 

Perhaps I shall. 

CAROLINE 

He'll be delighted to discuss Miss Madden. Mr. 
Krellin also wants to speak with him. He'll welcome 
you both; I'm sure. 

[Turning casually.'] 

He's just back from the South. He'll be in splen- 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 205 

did humor after all you've done for him in shutting 

up the mills. Good-by. 

[She exits in smiling good humor. ,] 

[Hildegarde stands by the table and slowly sinks 
into a chair. The hum of tenement life becomes 
audible. A baby is heard crying; and every de- 
tail that can be developed, pointing to the bar- 
ren squalor of her life is emphasized as in con- 
trast with the elegance of Mrs. Knoeeys'. 
Hiedegarde sits lost m thought, while the hub- 
bub swings around her. Suddenly the telephone 
begins to ring. Hildegarde doesn't notice it 
at first. The bell continues. Hiedegarde 
seems to come to her senses with a start. She 
goes to the 'phone, takes receiver and listens 
mechanically. ] 

HIEDEGARDE 

Yes. . . . This is Mrs. Sanbury. . . . Who is 
this? . . . Oh, Miss Ambie. . . . Yes. . . . Mrs. 
Knollys has just left. . . . 

[Coldly.'] 
I quite understand. Yes. . . . Good-by. . . . 

[Suddenly.] 
Wait! Hello! 

[Quietly.] 
Is Mr. Sanbury still there? 



206 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Murtha has entered softly from the hall, and goes 

to clear up the table.] 

. . . Yes. ... I should like to speak with him. 

[Pause. She speaks very tenderly.] 
Is this you, Larrie? . . . I'm sorry; but it 
couldn't be helped. . . . She's just left. . . . Yes. 
. . . Nothing has happened. . . . I'd just like to 
speak with you; as soon as you can get here. . . . 
Larrie! . . . What? . . . You can't? . . . 
[Long breath.] 
Then I'll wait for you. . . . This evening too . . . ? 
. . . Well, listen, Larrie, you must come. . . . No. 
... I can't speak of it over the 'phone. ... I must 
see you ; and as quickly as possible. . . . But this is 
important too ! 

[Pause.] 
No ! I can't wait ! . . . Do you understand, 
Larrie, I won't wait ! ! ! 

[She claps up the receiver and crosses to her room 
exclaiming hysterically: " / won't wait! I I 
won't wait!! " Murtha goes on quietly clear- 
ing up the dishes at the table. Hiedegarde is 
heard pulling out drawers violently and pushmg 
them bach again. Murtha shakes her head 
sorrowfully. She has cannily sensed the situa- 
tion. Hildegarde re-enters, carrying a small 
satchel, which she places on a chair next to the 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 207 

table. During the following scene she packs it 
with a dressing gown, tooth brushy hair brush 
and comb, slippers, night gown, etc. Several 
times during the scene she exits rapidly to her 
room for these toilet articles, and returns, with^ 
out interrupting the dialogue.] 

MURTHA 

[As Hildegarde enters carrying her satchel.~\ 
Ye ain't goin' away ; are ye ? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Jamming things mto the grip.~\ 
Yes . . . yes . . . 

MURTHA 

[Suddenly. ~\ 
Ah, where's me head! I saw th' Doolans. 
They've got a date wid you, they say. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Going to her room.] 
I don't want to see them. 

MURTHA 

[Calling after Hildegarde.] 
Th' agent says he's goin' to throw him out. 

HILDEGARDE 

He deserves it. 



208 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

MURTHA 

Ah, but jisht a word from you. . . . Moy, th' 
poor woman an' th' fambly. . . . 

HILDEGARDE 

[Entering and continuing her packing.'] 
I can't help them. 

MURTHA 

Doolan wanted to come here to apologoize; but 
Oi told him he'd bedther not. He'd be met on th' 
door-shtep wid a lump av his death ! 

HILDEGARDE 

You can tell them the ejection officer will tend to 
them. 

[She exits again and immediately re-appears.] 

MURTHA 

Shure, it's not you that's talkin', dearie; and Oi 
can't go down there ! Th' avvicer would see me oye, 
and know th' Doolans done it. . . . Oh, where's that 
shtuff? They say it's goin' blue on me. . . . An' 
you wouldn't have thim turned out in th' shtreet. . . . 

HILDEGARDE 

[Point mg to the shelf above the sink.] 
It's over there. You'd better take it with you. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 209 

MURTHA 

Thank ye. 

[Tenderly coax'mg.] 
Go on now, you. Go on now, shishter. . . . Take 
him back and let him shtay. 

HLLDEGARDE 

After what they've done to you; it seems queer 
that you . . . 

MURTHA 

Shure ye can't be angry wid th' min folks. . . . 
They're chilthren all av thim. 

[Piling up dishes.] 

Some gits crazy over the booze, and some gits 
crazy over polyteecks . . . and some gits crazy over 
wimmin . . . [Pickmg up all the dishes] and th' 
resht gits crazy over nothin' at all. 

[Coaccmgly.] 

Go on now. . . . Give iviry body anither chanct. 
That's what I alius says. 

[Singing out.] 

Ha ! Now there's moy Tim — Ha ! Oi could ha' 
left him any toime this forty years fer what he done 
to me — and what he didn't do. . . . G'wan now, 
dearie, give th' man anither chanct. 

[Hildegarde leaves the grip.] 



210 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

Th' Lord love ye, that's roight . . . and it's th' 
gran' good heart ye have. 

[Hildegarde goes toward door of her room. 
Murtha continues with a wise and tender canni- 
ness.~\ 
And . . . ah . . . ye'll not be needin' these 
things roight away. . . . 

[She throws the grip into her room.~\ 
You'd bedther shleep here fer to-night. . . . 
[Hildegarde has eocited sobbing brokenly. Murtha 
returns to the work of clearing up the table. 
She shakes her head and exclaims :] 
Shure, they're chilthren ! Ivery blessed wan of 
thim — just chilthren. 

{The Curtain descends on the Second Act.] 



ACT III 



ACT III 

The scene is the same as Act II. It is about eight- 
thirty of the evening of the same day. The 
table has been cleared and everything is restored 
to order. The door of Hilde garde's room is 
open. There are no lights on the stage, but the 
scene is dimly lit by the glow of lights from the 
flats in the rear. 

After the rise of the curtain, Krellin enters from 
the hall door, and goes immediately to the 
telephone on the typewriting desk. 

KRELEIN 

[With the ' phone. 1 
Hello — give me seven-one-one Plaza — yes, if 
you please. No, seven-ow-one. 

[Enter Lawrence from the hall, flinging the door 
back.'] 

KRELLIN 

Say, be quiet, will you? 

213 



214 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Nervously.] 
Oh, that you, Krellin? Where's Hildegarde? 
[He turns on a light over the table.] 

KRELLIN 

Psch! 

[To ' phone.] 

Hello, seven-one-one Plaza? Yes. Mr. Krellin 
of the " New York Echo " would like to speak with 
Mr. Knollys. 

LAWRENCE 

[Startled.'] 

See here, Krellin, you'd better drop it. 

KRELLIN 

[To 'phone.] 
Then I'll ring up again — yes, later. 
[As soon as Lawrence has gathered that Hubert is 
out, he makes a gesture of relief and fimgs into 
Hildegarde's room. He finds her bag and im- 
mediately re-enters carrying it. Krellin, in 
the interim, has hung up the recewer.] 

LAWRENCE 

What does this mean? Where is she? 
[He drops the bag and goes uncertainly toward his 
room at the left, and opens the door.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 215 

KRELLIN 

Have you been drinking? 

LAWRENCE 

[Fiercely. ,] 

That's my business ! 

KRELLIN 

H'm! Have you any other? 

LAWRENCE 

[Coming towards him.~\ 
I want to know where my wife is; and I want to 
know why you're telephoning my friends ! 

KREELIN 

Because I won't let your friends treat my Emmy 
the way you let them treat your wife. 

LAWRENCE 

Don't you interfere between Hildegarde and me ! 
Because, if you do, by God, I'll — 

KRELEIN 

I don't mix in with you. I have my own score to 
settle with Mr. Knollys and his wife. 

LAWRENCE 

[Seriously.] 
Krellin, I advise you to leave Mr. Knollys out of it. 



216 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

KRELLIN 

Ah, you are afraid, eh? 

LAWRENCE 

It isn't me — it's — 

[He hesitates.] 

KRELLIN 

[Violently.] 
So ! You too ! ! That woman has made you be- 
lieve that Emmy — 

[He goes toward Lawrence angrily, but stops and 
laughs. ] 
I don't wonder Mrs. Knollys thinks all women are 
like she is! 

LAWRENCE 

[Violently.'] 
You — ! 

KRELL1N 

[Quietly.] 
All the more am I determined now. 

LAWRENCE 

[At his wits' end.] 
There'll be an awful mix-up ! I don't know what 
to do! 

[Sits down blankly.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 217 

KRELLIN 

Don't think that I don't know why you're afraid 
of Mr. Knollys. It isn't business — it isn't Emmy 
— it's you. 

[Scathingly.] 

I am ashamed of you! You'd let this lie rest on 
my Emmy's shoulders, rather than have the truth 
revealed about yourself. Of course you don't want 
the truth to come out. But you see, I'm different. 
I don't fear the truth. And if your conduct with 
Mrs. Knollys cannot stand her husband's or your 
wife's investigation, I am sorry. That is all. 

LAWRENCE 

Get that idea out of your head! I don't fear the 
truth. It's Hildegarde I'm thinking of, and only 
Hildegarde. 

KREKLIN 

[Scornfully.] 
You've thought so much of her these last four 
months, since — 

LAWRENCE 

I have. We're down to rock-bottom, Krellin. 
We're full of debts — even my life-insurance is gone. 
I've given up my job. We've pawned everything 
that we could raise a cent on ; and Hildegarde's stood 
by me. That's why you can't go on and spoil things 
now, by dragging Mr. Knollys in. 



218 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Kreeein laughs scornfully.] 
I know it looks as if I had neglected Hildegarde; 
but she understands. I've had to hold on to this one 
chance, tooth and toe-nail. 

[Desperately.] 
I won't let anything interfere with it! Not you, 
nor Hildegarde — nor Emily — nor — 

KREELIN 

[Interrupting.'] 
Is that so ! Well, no matter what it costs to you 
or anybody else, we make Mrs. Knollys eat those 
lying words she said about my Emmy. So. 

[Kreeein exits through the hall door.] 

[Lawrence stands perplexed for a moment, then goes 

decidedly to the 'phone and rings up.] 

EAWRENCE 

Hello — give me one-four-three-three Plaza — 
yes — in a hurry, please. 

[Pause.] 
Central, they must answer. It's a private wire 
and they are expecting me to ring them up. 
[Pause* Then with an exaggerated change to a very 
polite manner.] 
Oh, hello — Is that you, Caroline ? I've been 
very busy — yes — all afternoon. Yes, I'm so 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 219 

sorry, but I shan't be able to get back — Nothing's 
happened to my voice; but — ah — the fact is I've 
had an accident . . . only my ankle — Oh, nothing 
serious — I'm sure, so don't be alarmed. . . . Yes, 
getting out of the cab. . . . I'm telephoning from 
a drug store. . . . Yes, it is painful; but I'm sure 
it's only wrenched. . . . Yes, I'll ring up my doctor 
as soon as I get home. ... I shall be quite alone. 
. . . Please don't worry. . . . Oh, I can tend to 
everything. 

[Pause.] 

I've already telephoned to Mrs. Millette. . . . 
Mercy, no, I wouldn't have a nurse touch me. . . . 
Yes, I'll telephone in the morning . . . yes, then as 
soon as he has left, I'll ring you up and tell you what 
his diagnosis is. . . . Hildegarde? . . . No, I 
haven't seen her. . . . Oh, not because of anything 
that happened here. . . . She's — she left this aft- 
ernoon to spend the week-end with some friends — 
yes — somewhere in the country — Westchester. 
. . . No, I shan't send for her. . . . Yes, if there's 
anything — but — Oh, thank you so much. . . . 
Good-by. 

[He rings off. During the last part of the above 
speech, Hildegarde has quietly entered from 
the hall door.] 



220 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Relieved and confused.'] 
Oh — Westchester! — I mean, I've just been tele- 
phoning. 

HILDEGARDE 

I didn't expect to see you this evening. 
[She goes to her typewriting desk for some letters, 

etc.] 

LAWRENCE 

Well, there was something in the sound of your 
voice over the 'phone that made me nervous; and I 
lied out of my engagements. As usual, said the first 
foolish thing that came into my mind. Now I'll have 
to stick to it, I suppose. 

HILDEGARDE 

Why do you always lie these days? 

LAWRENCE 

I never lie to you. 

HILDEGARDE 

Is that really the truth? 

LAWRENCE 

Why, yes ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Why did you say I was in Westchester? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 221 

LAWRENCE 

I didn't know where you'd gone to, and — 

HILDEGARDE 

Didn't you say I'd gone to Westchester because 
you were afraid that Mrs. Knollys would be jealous 
of your spending an evening alone with me? 

LAWRENCE 

What have you got in your head? 

[She looks at him. He contmues.] 

I had to say something to get out of things. Then 
I come home and find your bag packed. Where are 
you going? 

HILDEGARDE 

I think it best I go away a little while. 

LAWRENCE 

Away? Where to? 

HILDEGARDE 

I haven't decided. I was going to leave a note for 
you ; but Michael told me you were here ; so I — 

LAWRENCE 

[Bursting.'] 
Michael! Do you know what he's doing? And 
just now, of all times ! When everything depends on 
Mr. Knollys? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 



HILDEGARDE 

Yes, I advised him. 

LAWRENCE 

What! 

[Pause.] 
Hildegarde, suppose what Mrs. Knollys said about 
Emily is true? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Turning sharply.] 
Larrie ! 

LAWRENCE 

Well, I said, suppose it's true. 

HILDEGARDE 

It's not. And even if it were, she's not the one to 
make the accusation. 

LAWRENCE 

Why not? 

[Pause.] 
What's in your mind? Krellin's been saying 
things ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, no. 

LAWRENCE 

I know it. Why, just a moment ago he said that 
I was afraid to meet Mr. Knollys. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 223 

HILDEGARDE 

Afraid? Why? 

LAWRENCE 

He thinks that I — 

[He hesitates.'] 

HILDEGARDE 

[In a level tone.~\ 
What—? 

LAWRENCE 

That I've forgotten you. 

[Recklessly.'] 

Oh, I don't care what he thinks, except that I 
don't want you< to get wrong-headed. I thought at 
least, you'd understand. There's not a thing I've 
done that anybody can't question. 

HILDEGARDE 

That's ambiguous, Larrie; but I shan't question 
you. 

LAWRENCE 

I mean that anybody can't investigate. I've 
never really lied to you ; have I ? 

HILDEGARDE 

No — not lied exactly — just disguised things to 
make it easier for me. . . . Oh, yes, Larrie, my 



224 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

clothes, my work, our home, our life together, your 
work and all the circumstances and people that have 
come between us. 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, those things ! I don't mean them. 

HILDEGARDE 

What do you mean? 

LAWRENCE 

[Blurtmg it out.] 
I mean Car — Mrs. Knollys. That's what you 
mean ; and that's what Krellin means. 

HILDEGARDE 

[Tremulously.'] 
Yes. 

[She turns away.] 

LAWRENCE 

I want to explain everything, right from the be- 
ginning — everything. 

[She moves away. He follows.'] 

I want you to know the whole truth, and nothing 
but the truth; and then you can judge for yourself. 
Oh, I'm not proud of what I've had to do ; but there 
isn't a single thing that you can't know about — or 
that I'm really ashamed of — I swear ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 225 

[There is a knock at the hall door. Lawrence,, after 
a gesture of impatience, continues:] 
If that's Krellin, tell him I want to be alone with 
you. He can't telephone. He's got to leave Mr. 
Knollys out of this. I don't want Knollys to get 
wrong-headed too ! 

[He has followed Hildegarde who has moved up to 
the door.~\ 

HILDEGARDE 

[At door, to Lawrence.] 
Please ! 
[She opens the door and discovers Hubert Knollys 
standing there. ,] 

HUBERT 

[To Hildegarde.] 
I couldn't find the bell. 

LAWRENCE 

[Retreating.] 
Oh, Lord ! 

HUBERT 

Mrs. Sanbury, I'm very glad to see you. 
[Extends his hand. She takes it.] 

HILDEGARDE 

I've been hoping you'd come. 

[Lawrence is surprised.] 



226 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

Thank you. 

LAWRENCE 

Yes — we — 

HUBERT 

[Laconically to Lawrence.] 
Oh — how are you ? 

LAWRENCE 

[Embarrassed.] 
Oh, finely . . . been pretty busy since you left; 
but — 

HUBERT 

[Abruptly .~\ 
Yes, so I hear. 
[He turns to Hildegarde and points to a chair.] 
May I? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Nodding. ~\ 
Let me take your things. 

[Lawrence takes his hat and coat.] 

HUBERT 

[Sittmg and speaking to Hildegarde.] 
I've just got back from the South. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 227 

LAWRENCE 

[Effusively.] 
Yes, we heard you were away. 

HUBERT 

[Turning quietly.] 
I was rather of the opinion that you knew I was 
away. 

LAWRENCE 

Yes, to be sure — of course. Did you have a suc- 
cessful trip of it? 

HUBERT 

[Ironically.'] 
Have you had time to read the papers? 

LAWRENCE 

I was interested and all that; though I haven't 
followed the strike very closely. A little out of my 
line, you know. So if you're going to talk eco- 
nomics, hadn't I better — ? 

[He starts toward his room.] 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting.] 
There are some things I wish to discuss with your 
wife. I'd rather you'd be here. That is, if you 
don't mind. 



228 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Vaguely.] 
By all means — not at all. 
[Hildegarde turns anxiously to Hubert.] 

HUBERT 
[TO HlLDEGARDE.] 

You know, it was due a little to your suggestion, 
I went South. 

HlLDEGARDE 

And? 

HUBERT 

We've increased the operative's salaries and killed 
the child labor. 

HlLDEGARDE 

We know about the splendid settlement you forced. 

HUBERT 

[Grimly.'] 
I couldn't have done it by myself. You opened 
fire on my competitors. That made it easy. It 
looked like a general lock-out ; so I called a committee 
of the managers, and we all agreed to meet the 
strikers' terms. Alone, I would have made a Quix- 
otic failure. Well, we've yielded. You've kept 
your word; I've kept mine. Now we'll see what the 
workers will do with more money and shorter hours. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 229 

Personally, I think they'll invest in more phono- 
graphs and liquor; and their children will continue 
to go barefoot. 

HIEDEGARDE 

Perhaps. But the use of time and money must 
be learned. 

HUBERT 

They'll have their chance. Now, for the matter 
that brings me here immediately. 

[He takes out a letter. ] 

I received this by messenger this afternoon — 
from Miss Madden. 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes. 

HUBERT 

Miss Madden urges me to see you. 

HILDEGARDE 

She told me. 

HUBERT 

So I am here to do anything I can in the way of 
reparation. 

HILDEGARDE 

There's only one possible reparation. Your wife 
must withdraw her statement absolutely. The cir- 
cumstances are such that — 



230 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

I know. 

HILDEGARDE 

What can have been her motive? 

HUBERT 

There is no question of Miss Madden's innocence. 
She suffers from two misfortunes. Firstly, she is a 
very dear friend of mine; and secondly, she was of 
service to my wife. Gratitude makes some natures 
resentful. I, however, feel a great obligation to 
Miss Madden for averting a scandal, that my wife's 
ignorance of the law nearly precipitated. 

HIEDEGARDE 

Mr. Krellin helped her hush the matter up. But 
now, unless your wife withdraws her statements, he 
is determined to publish everything. 

HUBERT 

So his telegram informed me. But Mr. Krellin's 
threat could have very little weight either with Mrs. 
Knollys or with me. 

HILDEGARDE 

Why? 

HUBERT 

You must surely see that after doing all he could 
to keep the matter from the press, it would be ridicu- 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 231 

lous for Krellin now to make an exposure. His own 
conduct couldn't stand investigation. 
[Pause.] 
Will not my personal apology for Mrs. Knollys 
to Mr. Krellin and Miss Madden suffice? 

HILDEGARDE 

Considering the accusation and the way you are 
involved, I should say not. 

HUBERT 

Perhaps you're right. 

[Rises. ] 

I suggested it merely to show you how really 
powerless we are. A money damage for defamation 
is out of the question — 

HILDEGARDE 

Quite. 

HUBERT 

Then what do you propose? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Firmly.'] 
That right here, and before the very people in 
whose presence Mrs. Knollys made the accusation, 
she must retract and with full apologies. Nothing 
less. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 



HUBERT 

[Involuntarily. ] 
I'd love to see it ! 

LAWRENCE 

Hildegarde ! 

HUBERT 

[To Hildegarde.] 
Your husband's exclamation proves that he and I 
know my wife much better than you do, Mrs. San- 
bury. He appreciates her force of will. 
[To Lawrence.] 
Don't you, sir? 
[Lawrence looks on guard and says nothing. ,] 

HILDEGARDE 

Is your wife absolutely indifferent to the social 
consequences of her own conduct? 

HUBERT 

[Sitting.'] 
Ah! Why do you ask? 

HILDEGARDE 

Because immediately after having accused Emily, 
she did her best to make me believe my husband had 
become her lover. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 233 

HUBERT 

[Attempting to be surprised.] 
What!! 

LAWRENCE 

[Bounding out of his skin.~\ 
Hildegarde ! ! 

[To Hubert.] 
This is outrageous ! 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes. 

[Lawrence is open mouthed.] 

HUBERT 

[To Hildegarde.] 
Are you sure you're not mistaken? 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, no. On the contrary, she took the greatest 
pains to impress it on me with all the malicious inso- 
lence of triumph she could command. 

HUBERT 

But — why do you tell me this ? 

HILDEGARDE 

To ask you to use it as you think best, to help me 
to force your wife to make just reparation to my 
friend. 



234 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

[Finding his voice. ] 
It's all a damnable lie! A whole-sale rotten — ! 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting.] 

Pardon, I should reserve such language until you 
have a better right to use it. 

LAWRENCE 

Wh-what do you mean? 

HUBERT 

Remember, sir, the lady you are speaking of is 
still my wife. 

LAWRENCE 

[Wildly.'] 
I can't help that! I have my wife to consider, 
Mr. Knollys, and — 

HUBERT 

[Scornfully.] 
Indeed ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Continuing.] 
And with all deference to your wife, I must repeat 
that if your wife said those things to my wife, your 
wife uttered a lie ! ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

So I told her myself. 

HUBERT 

[Promptly.] 
You did that to shield your husband. 

LAWRENCE 

[Vehemently.] 
And I protest that if your wife — 

HUBERT 

[Sternly to Lawrence.] 
Keep quiet ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Spinning about.'] 
For God's sake, some one do me the favor to tell 
me that one of us is blind or deaf or — 

HUBERT 

[Severely.] 
Sit down!! 

LAWRENCE 

[Landing into a chair and wailing.] 
She's old enough to be my mother! 

HUBERT 
[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

Did she say anything further ? Come ! 



236 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

She wantonly taunted me with my failure to hold 
my husband. When I told her I did not believe her, 
she even urged me to question him. I refused. 
Please to observe I have not questioned him. 

LAWRENCE 

[Imploringly, ] 

Oh, why didn't you? 

HUBERT 
[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

Why did you not question him? 

HILDE GARDE 

Because — simply because I did not believe your 
wife. 

LAWRENCE 

[Fervently. ] 
Thank God ! 

HUBERT 

But if you do not believe her statements, why 
repeat them to me? 

HILDEGARDE 

To serve my friend, I shall deliberately choose to 
believe your wife ; and if you will help me — 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 237 

HUBERT 

[Interjecting.] 

Rely on that. 

HILDEGARDE 

Then I shall act as if everything she said were 
absolutely true. 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, Hildegarde! How can you!? 

HILDEGARDE 

[To Hubert.] 
In that way we can turn her arrow against Emily 
into a boomerang to recoil upon herself. 

HUBERT 

Hum. Then you will name her as a co-respondent? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Genumely frightened.'] 
What ! You mean divorce my — divorce Larrie ? 

HUBERT 

Yes. 

LAWRENCE 

[To Hildegarde.] 
See here ! Vm the one that your damned boom- 
erang is hitting! 



238 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 
[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

That is unavoidable.. 

LAWRENCE 

See here ! — 

HlLDEGARDE 

[Eocpostulatmgly to Hubert.] 
But don't you see that I do not believe her. She 
did it to provoke a jealous quarrel; and if I judge 
her rightly, she will withdraw her insults rather than 
endure disgrace. It won't have to go that far! 
D-Don't you see that? 

HUBERT 

Thank you for your assurance, but I must differ 
with you. 

LAWRENCE 

[To Hubert.] 
Why? — do you think that I — ? 

HUBERT 

[Calmly. ~\ 
I think there is an important person that you 
both have so far overlooked — myself. 
[To Lawrence.] 
You have chosen to protect my wife by calling 
her a liar. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 239 

[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

You protect your husband by calling her a liar, 
too. It seems my attitude has been neglected. 
[Hildegarde is appalled.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Bravely.] 
Well—? 

HUBERT 

Yes. Here's where you come in. 

LAWRENCE 

[Crumpling.'] 
What do you intend to do? 

HUBERT 

I choose to believe these statements for my own 
sake. 

HILDEGARDE 

You can't ! You can't ! ! 

LAWRENCE 

[To Hubert.] 
You don't mean to say ! — 

[To Hildegarde, wildly.] 
He believes it! He believes it! 



240 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

[Quietly. ] 
I always believe my wife when she affirms, never 
when she denies. 

HIKDEGARDE 

[Stupefied.] 
But, Mr. Knollys, you don't really think that . . . 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting.'] 
My dear lady, you are too gullible. 

[To Lawrence.] 
Now, I want the truth, and I expect it manfully. 
[He approaches Lawrence, who retreats.] 

LAWRENCE 

This is perfectly ridiculous ! 

HUBERT 

[Taking out a note-book.] 
Please have the courtesy to remember that it is 
you who has made us both ridiculous ; and don't 
thrust it down our throats. 

[Consulting his book.] 

You spent at least a week with Caroline alone in 
Italy. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 241 

LAWRENCE 

That isn't true! Susan Ambie . . . 

HUBERT 

[Promptly.] 
I have seen Miss Ambie. She did more than con- 
fess. She attempted to defend it. 

LAWRENCE 

Miss Ambie is a fool? 

HUBERT 

Quite so. 

[Continuing.'] 
Do you admif being alone with Mrs. Knollys? 

LAWRENCE 

[Pausing. ] 
Why — I — 

HILDEGARDE 

[Gone white.] 
Doirt deny it, Larrie. 

HUBERT 
[To HlLDEGARDE.] 

I heard you say some weeks ago you had letters 
to that effect. 

LAWRENCE 

[Imploringly.] 
Hildegarde ! 



242 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

Yes. I have them. 

HUBERT 

Very good. I trust you to produce them at the 
proper time. 

[To Lawrence.] 
You crossed on the same steamer. 

LAWRENCE 

[Grasping at a straw.] 
Miss Ambie was with us ! 

HUBERT 

Yes; and since your arrival on October 5th you 
have devoted all your time, practically day and 
night, to each other. 

LAWRENCE 

[Angrily.] 

I won't stand here and have you say such things 
about your wife ! 

HUBERT 

Am I to be the only one who does not say them? 

LAWRENCE 

She simply — 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 



HUBERT 

[With feigned anger. ] 
Pray do not explain my wife to me. 

[Continuing from his note-book.] 

On October 7th you actually installed yourself 
under my roof — a most tasteless procedure, which 
I refused to countenance. I went South. You 
thought, no doubt, that openness would disarm sus- 
picion. It doesn't work. As part of that same 
plan, my wife openly confesses her infatuation to 
your wife, boasts of her power, and then further 
openly denounces an innocent woman, in order to 
produce the impression that her own actions are not 
subject to criticism. Truly, this is the very blind- 
ness of infatuation. 

[Laughs.] 

I admire your brass — but really it won't do. 
The rest of us are not so blind. I compliment you 
on your conquest [Ironically] . But how long did 
you imagine I would allow this to continue? 

LAWRENCE 

Mr. Knollys, all that I can say is — 

HUBERT 

[Scathingly.] 
At least, sir, have the courage of your actions. 



244 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Snapping his book closed, and looking at Hilde- 
garde, who sees she has awakened a Franken- 
stein.] 
I have a further list of rendezvous, which I shall 

not ask you to verify in the presence of your wife! 

LAWRENCE 

My wife knows everything that can be said about 
me! 

HUBERT 

I doubt it. In any case, your protection until 
now has been your wife's credulity. We shall see. 
When my lawyer — 

LAWRENCE 

[Interrup ting. ] 
All right. Get your lawyer. Now I'll thank you, 
Mr. Knollys, to leave me alone with my wife, who's 
never doubted me, and has no reason to doubt me 
now. I have the courage of my actions ! I'll bring 
the whole thing right into the open — and if you 
can stand it, I can. 

[The two men look each other squarely in the eye. 
Suddenly the bell rings over the hall door.~\ 

HUBERT 

[Turning to Hildegarde.] 
Is that your bell? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 245 

[Hildegarde goes directly to the hall door, opens 
it and discloses Mrs. Knollys. She is mag- 
nificently dressed in a long opera cloak over her 
evening gown. She has also a heavy veil about 
her head. Caroline enters swiftly, then stands 
appalled. ] 

HUBERT 

[Recognizing her.] 
Ah, Caroline! 
[Surprise of all. Caroline undoes her veil and 
faces him.] 
You come most apropos. 

[Sarcastically.] 
Did you call to see Mrs. Sanbury? 

CAROLINE 

[After a pause.] 
I ... I have called for you. 

[She comes into the room.] 

HUBERT 

Indeed ! How is that ? 

CAROLINE 

I am on my way to the opera. I assumed that 
Miss Madden had summoned you. I thought I'd 
pick you up. 



246 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

How kind of you. But may I ask why you as- 
sumed that I'd be here in Mrs. Sanbury's apart- 
ment ? 

CAROLINE 

Quite naturally. Mrs. Sanbury is the only other 
person interested with you, in deceiving Mr. Krellin 
and whitewashing Miss Madden. 

HILDEGARDE 

Mrs. Knollys, my husband telephoned you that 
I had gone to Westchester; so you couldn't have ex- 
pected to see me. 

[Lawrence is desperate.] 

HUBERT 

[To Caroline.] 
Oh, you expected to find Mr. Sanbury alone. 
[After a glance at Lawrence, he turns to Hilde- 
garde.] 
Well, then, Mrs. Sanbury, let us no longer in- 
trude. Will you direct me to Miss Madden? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Moves to the hall door, then turns.] 
Mrs. Knollys, I think it only fair to tell you, that 
I have repeated to Mr. Knollys the whole substance 
of your conversation with me this afternoon. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 247 

[Hubert opens the door. Hildegarde exits; and 
he follows, closing the door behind him. Law- 
rence is standing stupefied down left. Caro- 
line is at center. Pause. ~\ 

CAROLINE 

[In an unsteady voice.] 
I think I'm going to faint. 

LAWRENCE 

[Putting her into chair at the table, anxiously.] 
Oh, don't! For Heaven's sake, don't do that. 

[She sits.] 
I'll get you a glass of water. 

[He goes quickly to the tubs and pours one out of 
a bottle. Coming to her.] 

Here, drink this. Is there anything else I can 
get you? 

[She sips the water.] 
Shan't I send for some one? 

CAROLINE 

[Ironically.] 
For whom? 

[She drinks the water.] 



248 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

LAWRENCE 

You feel better now, don't you? Shall I get you 
some salts? 
[He moves quickly toward Hildegarde's room.~\ 

CAROLINE 

No. I'll be all right. 

[Suddenly.'} 
You walk very well. 

LAWRENCE 

[Stopping. ] 
Why, yes, I — Shall I get you home? 

CAROLINE 

[Caustically.] 
No. I have no trouble with my ankle. 

LAWRENCE 

[Suddenly remembering.] 
Oh, forgive me, Caroline. 

CAROLINE 

[In a rage.] 
Don't call me Caroline! I imagined you here 
alone, in pain, too ill to telephone — I thought you 
might be glad to see me. I lost my prudence. 
[Lawrence turns away.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 249 

How much of what you've said to me for all these 
months is true? What did you mean by taking me 
into your arms to-day and . . . Agh — !! 
[She turns from him.] 

LAWRENCE 

[Simply.] 
I've done a great wrong. 

CAROLINE 

[Sarcastically.] 
And when did you discover that? 

LAWRENCE 

After I kissed you to-day — the way I did. 

CAROLINE 

That's why you left so suddenly. 

IiAWRENCE 

Yes. 

CAROLINE 

And came right back to her? 

LAWRENCE 

I tried to find her, but I couldn't. I was frantic. 
I looked every place. I really thought that she had 
left me. 

[In a low voice.] 



.250 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

And I thought that I deserved it. Then I tele- 
phoned to you ; and she came in. 

CAROLINE 

The kiss that woke your prudence put mine to 
sleep. How strange! And you were thinking all 
the time of her! 

[She laughs hysterically.] 

LAWRENCE 

Why, yes. Always I My work, my ambition, — 
even my gratitude to you has been for her sake. 

CAROLINE 

Then I was merely the ladder on which you pro- 
posed to climb and pluck the golden fruit for her! 

LAWRENCE 

I've been a miserable cad ! I know what you must 
think of me! 

CAROLINE 

And what do they think of you? 

LAWRENCE 

Oh, how can I tell you? Your husband insists 
upon putting the worst interpretation upon every- 
thing ! 

CAROLINE 

You mean? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 251 

LAWRENCE 

I did all I could to make him see that he was 
wrong in doubting you. 

[A withering look from Caroline.] 

Oh, but what made you tell those outrageous 
falsehoods about us to Hildegarde!? 

CAROLINE 

[Rismg in a cold rage.~\ 
The word falsehood can only be applied to your 
attitude to me. I took you for an artist, eager to 
rise above and to be free from the commonness and 
squalor of your surroundings, and I was willing to 
help you. But I find you only a little entrepreneur, 
afraid of your conscience, and satisfied with your 
mutton ! Well, return to it ! 

[She moves away, then turns.] 

I have one more direction to give you. Kindly 
refrain from any further defense of me. I wish to 
speak to my husband. Will you tell him I am 
waiting? 

[Lawrence exits through the hall door.~\ 
[Caroline pauses in intense thought, then gathers 
herself together, takes her vanity-box from her 
opera bag, opens the mirror and scrutinizes her- 
self closely. She adjusts her hair, smooths her 
eyebrows and puts a little rouge on her lips. 



252 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

She regains her absolute composure by a su- 
preme effort. Hubert enters. He is very self- 
possessed. ] 

HUBERT 

You wished to see me? 

CAROLINE 

[Charmingly.] 
I have been waiting. 

HUBERT 

For what? 

CAROLINE 

If you've quite finished your visit, I thought per- 
haps you would enjoy an hour at the opera. 
[She gives him her cloak.] 

HUBERT 

[Taking the cloak.] 
No, thank you. 

CAROLINE 

You wish to go right home? 

HUBERT 

For the present I have decided to — ah — live at 
the club. 

CAROLINE 

Very well. Can I drop you there? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 253 

HUBERT 

No. 

[Putting her cloak on a chair.] 
I shall need you here. 

CAROLINE 

Oh, then our meeting was most fortunate. 

HUBERT 

Yes. I was wondering how to get you here. 

CAROLINE 

As it is probably the last time I shall ever come, 
if there's anything that you would like me to do for 
you while I am — 

HUBERT 

[Interrupting her, admiringly.] 
Caroline, you're magnificent! We'd better get 
right to the point. 

[Looking at his watch.] 
I needn't detain you very long. I've told Miss 
Madden and the others to — ah — come downstairs 
in five minutes. 

CAROLINE 

[Acting as if perplexed.] 
I wonder what she can have to say to me ; or [In- 
credulously] do you want me to meet her again? 



254* THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

I am afraid I shall be obliged to insist upon it. 
I have already satisfied Mr. Krellin. 

CAROLINE, 

Dear, dear 1 That must have been fatiguing ; but 
how very nice ! I believe he wants to marry her. 



HUBERT 



Yes. 



CAROLINE 

A very amusing man. Too bad! But how am I 
concerned? 

HUBERT 

In the presence of all the people before whom you 
made your accusation against Miss Madden, I 
should like you to retract it and apologize. 

CAROLINE 

[Very graciously. ,] 
My dear Hubert, I consider that you've never had 
any fault to find with me in any of your former 
affectionate waywardnesses. Of course, I have re- 
gretted them, but my pride has never been involved 
till now. This adventure is different. You might 
at least have chosen a woman of your class. I 
closed my eyes even to this, until the unfortunate 
woman was forced upon me in a manner I felt obliged 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 255 

to resent. I'm very sorry. I know so little of how 
these people act. You might have put me on my 
guard. Now you wish me to apologize to her for 
having said the truth. 

[She laughs. ,] 
Really, Hubert, don't you think you ask too 
much? 

HUBERT 

I have assured them you would do so. That was 
the purpose of my visit. 

CAROLINE 

[Still smiling.] 
I'm very sorry to disappoint the audience and 
perplex the impresario. 

[Distinctly.'] 
You may cut my salary if you like, but I give no 
performance this evening. 

[Rises.] 

HUBERT 

[Gracefully.] 

Having heard you once, the audience refuses a 
substitute. 

CAROLINE 

Then I suggest you reimburse them. 



256 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

No, that won't do. 

CAROLINE 

Have you tried? 

HUBERT 

I explained that you came here with the best in- 
tentions, and that you would fulfil their expectations. 

CAROLINE 

[Merrily.] 
I couldn't keep my face straight in the tragic 
parts. 

HUBERT 

I must really insist that you be serious. 

CAROLINE 

It's no use my trying. 

HUBERT 

[Looking at his watch.] 
We're wasting time. 

CAROLINE 

Hubert, you're so good-humored, you almost make 
me feel that you're in earnest. 

HUBERT 

I am. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 257 

CAROLINE 

And if I still refuse? 

HUBERT 

Then you force me to resort to measures that we 
both decided were ridiculous. I have waited for this 
moment for twenty-five long years. For all that 
time you've held the whip ; I've had to canter to your 
wish. But now, my dear, if you do not retract your 
statement and protect Miss Madden absolutely, / 
shall sue for a divorce and name your — latest as a 
co-respondent. 

CAROLINE 

[Calmly. ] 
You can't. 

HUBERT 

I have persuaded Mrs. Sanbury to allow me to 
assume the suit. 

CAROLINE 

[Slowly. ,] 
So, you stand with her. 

HUBERT 

Precisely. 

CAROLINE 

I compliment you on your associate. 

HUBERT 

You left me no choice. 



258 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

Well? 

HUBERT 

It's been your policy to overlook my trespasses; 
but note I have not condoned either in private or in 
public. That is why I do not wish to appear with 
you in our box to-night — that is why I left your 
house, as soon as ever I discovered the — intrigue ; 
and I shall not return. Whatever was lacking in 
my evidence, Mrs. S anbury and others have supplied. 

CAROLINE 

Go on. 

HUBERT 

I should like to settle matters amicably, but 
really, my dear, it's no longer in my power. If / 
do not sue for the divorce, Mrs. Sanbury will; and 
she will name you as a co-respondent. That might 
be more annoying. 

CAROLINE 

I have done nothing 1 

HUBERT 

You have always told me that our society deals 
in appearances; and you have done sufficient here 
and abroad to create a prima facie case. The bur- 
den will rest upon you to prove that we are wrong. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 259 

CAROLINE 

[Snapping her fingers.] 
That for your appearances ! 

HUBERT 

They are far more damning than any you may 
know about me and Miss Madden. Come, you're 
too much a thoroughbred and too wise a woman not 
to know when you are beaten. 

CAROLINE 

[Leanmg forward.] 
Let me understand you. If I give Miss Madden 
a certificate of virtue, you will withhold the suit. 
That is your price, is it ? 

HUBERT 

As far as I'm concerned, yes. I can make no bar- 
gain for Mrs. S anbury. 

CAROLINE 

Then what's the use of my withdrawing anything, 
if she — ? 

HUBERT 

You will have me with you instead of against you. 

CAROLINE 

And what of that? 



260 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

If I stand by and make no objection to Sanbury's 
attentions, who else can? They become immediately 
innocent, and her proceeding is discouraged; but if 
I join with her — which I mean to do unless you 
meet my terms, you become immediately defenseless 
and every suspicion is justified. 

[A movement from Caroline.] 

Without me, to whom can you appeal for help? 
To Society? It would rend you and rejoice in it, as 
you have rended others. You can ill afford to have 
your name publicly coupled with this young San- 
bury's in any dirty proceeding. 

CAROLINE 

[Sharply driving a bargain.'] 
In other words, if / protect Miss Madden from 
the truth, you will protect me from a lie. 

HUBERT 

Precisely ; and we all enter into our usual, polite 
conspiracy of silence. I advise you to reflect. 

CAROLINE 

[Rising.] 
I shall. I'll think it over. 

[She sits in the chair down left.] 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 261 

HUBERT 

[With his watch,'] 
You've just two minutes to decide. 

CAROLINE 

[Ominously.'] 
Hubert, I advise you not to humiliate me before 
these people. 

HUBERT 

It's either these few people here, or the grinning 
congregation you will be forced to face alone, in 
your temple of Convention. 

[Pause.] 

I know what this must mean to you. 

[Caroline shudders.] 
You've been hard hit to-day. 

[He goes toward her.] 

With all your bravado, I know you're covering a 
wound. I believe that you seriously cared about 
this young man. For the first time in your life 
you've cared about anything outside of yourself. 
That's why you forgot yourself and went so wrong. 
[She looks up at him.] 

Oh! There's hope in that. I didn't think that 
it was in you. You made yourself vulnerable for 



262 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

him, and the disillusionment has come, and hurt you 
far more than you will ever confess. 
[He turns away.] 
And then I'd like to spare you for another reason. 
After all, you are the mother of my child, and we've 
negotiated something of a life since we were young 
together. 

[Pause.] 

CAROLINE 

[Rising.] 
Send them in! 
[He goes to the hall door, opens it and makes a ges- 
ture to them outside.] 

HUBERT 

[To Caroline.] 
They're coming now. 

CAROLINE 

[A malicious expression crosses her face. It passes. 
She turns and asks:] 
Do you want to stay and see me take my medicine ? 

HUBERT 

[Bowing.] 
I know that you will do it gracefully. 
[Lawrence enters from the hall. Caroline turns 
immediately toward the audience. Lawrence 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 263 

is very uncomfortable as he passes Hubert. 
Lawrence is followed by Krellin and Emily. 
Krellin is uneasily defiant. Emiey looks 
down. Hildegarde is the last to enter. She 
looks uncertainly at Hubert. Caroline is 
the only one who is completely self-possessed. 
Hildegarde closes the door. The others have 
gathered awkwardly around the table, center. 
Caroline stands in her position down left. 
There is an awkward pause. Hubert turns to 
Caroline, who shrugs her shoulders gaily and 
turns away.~\ 

HUBERT 

[To all.] 
Hum — As I explained to you, my wife so much 
regretted her unfortunate mistake that she was un- 
willing to allow the night to pass before she came 
down personally to rectify it. 

[To Krellin and Emily.] 
You have assured me that her personal retraction 
will be satisfactory. My wife desires to make it. 

KRELLIN 

[Taking out a paper.] 
Mr. Knollys, I have drawn up a paper for your 
wife to sign. 

HUBERT 

But — 



264 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

CAROLINE 

Hubert! 

[She passes him and goes to the table, center.'] 

KRELLIN 

I think that she will find it accurate. 
[Krellin puts the paper on the table, center, and 
takes out his fountain pen, which he lays care- 
fully next to it. Caroline sits at the table, 
takes the paper and reads aloud.] 

CAROLINE 

" November twenty-ninth, nineteen-fifteen. I, 
Mrs. Hubert Knollys, having permitted myself to 
make a certain disparaging, slanderous and criminal 
statement [Hubert would interfere. She contin- 
ues] on this date, concerning the chastity of Miss 
Emily Madden, — in the presence of Mr. Krellin, 
Mrs. Sanbury and Mr. Sanbury, do herewith wish to 
recant it absolutely, and to state over my signature 
that my statement was groundless. To wit: I said 
that Miss Madden was improperly intimate with my 
husband, Mr. Hubert Knollys. I now declare this 
statement to be absolutely false, mistaken and un- 
warranted. Signed " — 

[She looks up questioningly.] 
[Krellin points to the bottom of the page.] 

Here? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 265 

KRELLIN 

Please. 

CAROLINE 

[While writing.'] 
In addition, I wish to make my humble apology 
for any misinterpretation I may have made in re- 
gard to Miss Madden's . . . generous services to 
my husband and to me. At least I've learned that 
lies are futile, and that truth crushed to earth will 
rise again. 

[She rises. Emily sinks down into a chair at the 
right. The rest of them shift in an embar- 
rassed way. Caroline folds the signed retrac- 
tion, leans toward Krellin and asks gently :] 

CAROLINE 

Is there anything else? 

[Pause.'] 

LAWRENCE 

[Coming forward.] 
Mrs. Knollys . . . 
[Caroline passes him, disdainmg to reply. He 
then turns to Mr. Knollys.] 
Considering the circumstances, I think it bet- 
ter that I resign the contract for remodeling your 
house. 



266 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HUBERT 

Very well. Then — ah . . . Caroline, if you've 
quite finished . . . that is . . . 

CAROLINE 

[Taking her cloak, which he holds for her.~\ 
Yes. I told Morgan to wait. 

[With a little shiver. ~\ 
I'm afraid it's raining. Hubert, will you please 
see if the motor is at the door? 

[Hubert gives her a swift, suspicious look. She 
meets his returning glance with an assuring 
smile. Pause. ] 

HUBERT 

Yes, certainly. 
[He quickly takes his hat and coat from the hat- 
rack at the door, then turns. ] 
Good night. Good night. 

KRELLIN 

[Picking up the signed paper. ] 
Good night. 

[Hubert exits, .] 
[Caroline sweeps around as if to follow Hubert, 
but pauses a second to look mockingly at 
Emily, who is still seated at the right, with 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 267 

bowed head. Caroline's soft laugh is inter- 
rupted by Krelein, who speaks just as she has 
got to the door.'] 

KREELIN 

Mrs. Knollys . . . 
[She turns in the door, with her hand on the knob.'] 

You have signed this paper. 

[ Triumphantly. ] 

But I wish you to know that, for me, this was not 
in the least necessary. I had no belief whatever in 
your assertions. It was only because they dis- 
tressed Miss Madden that I exacted this satisfac- 
tion. 

CAROLINE 

[Graciously.] 
Quite so . . . Quite so. It's a pity that I can- 
not go further and silence all rumors about a little 
trip on the Chesapeake, Miss Madden made with 
Mr. Knollys on his yacht . . . 

[Looking at Emily.] 
Or any malicious innuendoes about my husband's 
too frequent visits at odd hours to her apartment in 
East Thirtieth Street. 

[A movement from Kreeein.] 
Don't be alarmed! When rumors of this kind 
come to you, I want you to feel sure that I am al- 



268 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

ways at your service to help you to discredit them. 

[Emily has cowered under Caroline's speech. 
Krellin starts for the door with an inarticu- 
late cry of rage and surprise.] 

CAROLINE 

[Very graciously.] 
Good night. 

[She closes the door behind her.] 

KRELLIN 

Stop! Wait!! 

[Emily has quickly risen, and intercepts him.] 

EMILY 

Michael ! Please ! 

KRELLIN 

But, Emmy, this is worse!! 

EMILY 

You can do nothing more! 

KRELLIN 

This time I'll . . . ! 

EMILY 

No, no ! I'm done for ! I've got to give you up ! 
What she said is true ! ! 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 269 

KRELLIN 

What!? 

HILDEGARDE 
Oh! 

EMILY 

I couldn't have stood it any longer ! I'm glad the 

truth is out ! ! . . . I'm glad . . . 

[Krellin makes over to her, takes her by the shoul- 
ders and peers into her face. She sinks under 
his gaze. He recoils with an almost savage ex- 
clamation.'] 

HILDEGARDE 

Stop, Michael! 

KRELLIN 

[Tearing up the retraction.] 
Women ! Women ! 

[Then, with a bitter cry.] 
Faith is a virtue only when it is blind; and then 
it makes a fool of you ... a fool ! 

EMILY 

No, Michael, Tm the fool! I should have trusted 
you ... I should have told you everything. You 
would have understood. But how can you forgive 
me for the lie I've acted! 

[She goes toward him.] 



270 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

But don't . . . don't lose your faith in other, 
women, because I've been a fool . . . 

[She turns sobbing toward the door.] 
Yes, I'm the fool . . . I'm the fool . . . 
[She exits.] 

HLLDEGARDE 

Michael, go with Emily. 

KREMLIN 

[With infinite pity.] 
So, my poor little Emmy. Oh, we primitive 
males ! We create idols, and when the truth comes, 
what do we find ? Only pitiful humanity ! 

[He goes to the door and turns with a wry smile.] 

But you see, all of us together, fighting blindly, 
were not strong enough to fight against the truth! 

[He suddenly breaks out into an hysterical laugh.] 
God is a great humorist ! . . . A great humorist ! ! 
[He exits through hall door.] 

[As soon as the door closes on Krelun, Hilde- 
garde also break's out into a bitter laugh of 
disillusionment. ] 

LAWRENCE 

[Frightened at her laughter.] 
How can you laugh? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 271 

HILDEGARDE 

Because I too have been a fool! And when one's 
faith is dead, one needs a sense of humor. 
[Grimly. ] 

So, she spoke the truth, your friend Mrs. Knollys 
— the truth about you as well. 

LAWRENCE 

Hildegarde, if she told you that I had ever been 
unfaithful to you, she lied. 

HILDEGARDE 

Did she lie when she said your nature couldn't 
stand poverty — that you couldn't work in this en- 
vironment, — ' that you had to court the rich to get 
your chance to rise, — that I, with my principles and 
my work stood in your way ? Did she lie about your 
character? Oh, no, she showed me the truth. 

LAWRENCE 

Hildegarde, you frighten me! How can we live 
together if you believe such things? 

HILDEGARDE 

Do you think that I could speak like this, if I 
didn't realize that we can't live together? 

LAWRENCE 

[Terrified.] 
Hildegarde ! 



272 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

I see it now. It's been a huge mistake, our mar- 
rying. I've got to leave you. 

LAWRENCE 

Why — why ? 

HILDEGARDE 

You can't live my way any more. You've got an- 
other call. I won't live your way. I try not to 
judge; but I can't approve of what you do, 

LAWRENCE 

Then you really believe all that she said about me ! 

HILDEGARDE 

How little you understand! 

LAWRENCE 

But she lied — she lied ! ! 

HILDEGARDE 

I know she's neither big enough nor small enough 
to really give herself ; but there's much more at stake 
than physical fidelity. She's seduced you away from 
your self, — from every ideal I built my faith in, — 
from everything that consecrated us. 



LAWRENCE 

But you're my wife; aren't you? 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 273 

HILDEGARDE 

You're not the man I married; and this isn't the 
kind of life together that we contemplated. 

LAWRENCE 

[Agonized.] 

But you love me; don't you? 

HILDEGARDE 

How far off that sounds ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Imploringly.] 
What are you saying!? 

HILDEGARDE 

Larrie, you've become a stranger. Something in 
me has withered. I believe it's dead. 

LAWRENCE 

No — no, — will you listen ? 

HILDEGARDE 

Oh, don't explain. I've had my fill of that. I'm 
not blaming you. 

LAWRENCE 

[Choking.'] 
Listen ! 



274 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

HILDEGARDE 

You'll only end by asking for something that I 
cannot give. I can't help it, Larrie; but the truth 
is, we don't need or want each other any longer. 

LAWRENCE 

But I want you! I can't live without you. I'd 
give up everything I ever hoped to get, to have you 
happy as you were! 

HILDEGARDE 

We never used to think about happiness. It just 
came. 

LAWRENCE 

[With a cry.] 
I wish I'd never met her ! It's all been futile ! 

HILDEGARDE 

No. It hasn't been. She's taught us both a great 
deal. 

LAWRENCE 

What's the good of that, if I've lost you? 

HILDEGARDE 

[Continuing.] 
And then I like to think the factory people are 
a little happier for our knowing Mr. Knollys. 



THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 275 

LAWRENCE 

[Reproachfully and helplessly.'] 
How cruel you are! What do I care about all 
those things? It's only you, Hildegarde! 
[Gomg to her.] 
You! You! 

[Tearfully.'] 
You're all I want ! 

[ Weeping. ] 
If I lose you, what will become of me ? 

[Clutching her childishly and accusingly.] 
I'll just lose myself! 

[Shaking her.] 

Don't you see that I belong to you? Don't you 
see that!? Don't punish me any more. 

[Hoarsely shaken with sobs, he falls and clutches her 
knees.] 

You can't treat me like this ! I can't stand it ! 

I've been wrong; but don't punish me for what I 

couldn't help ! 

[Lawrence has delivered this last speech in a tor- 
rent of choking tears and with a sobbing inco- 
herent vehemence.] 

HILDEGARDE 

Larrie — Larrie. . . . Don't be absurd. 



276 THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN 

[Comforting him.'] 
Don't cry, Larrie, — you foolish, foolish boy ! 

LAWRENCE 

[Still holding her tightly."] 
And you won't leave me? 

HILDE GARDE 

[Helplessly.] 
How can I? You're such a child. 

[She takes him in her arms.] 



curtain 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




012 383 232 2 O 



m 



m 



,.; tv.--.-v 

■ 

■ 



■ 

■ 



